Appleton Challenges Parrotfish Reports

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Environment Articles

Thursday, 28 June 2012 02:30

By caribarena news

Antigua St John's - Chief Fisheries Officer Cheryl Appleton has countered recent reports of the granting of new licenses to export Parrotfish being responsible for a local shortage and unavailability in supermarkets.

Caribarena has received reports that the Fisheries Division routinely awards licenses to export up to 8000 pounds of Parrotfish weekly, which has affected the local supply chain.

Supermarkets reportedly affected include major outlets like Epicurean, and while that supermarket acknowledges not having access to as much as it used to, it says it is not seriously affected because of the limited demand from its customers.

Ms. Appleton denies knowledge of the issuance of any new licenses in this regard, and maintained that fish exports continue as per normal.

She said that from her understanding, local supermarkets do not sell much local fish. Fish from Guyana costs less to import and resell, and has therefore dominated the local market.

"Parrotfish is not scarce so if they (supermarkets) want Parrotfish I can put them on to the fishermen. Epicurean has told me upfront that they don’t buy local fish,” Appleton said.

The Chief Fisheries Officer noted that export of fish from Antigua & Barbuda, regardless of the species, continues to be an issue of concern considering the comparison to what is being imported. She encouraged that local produce be given the opportunity to stay in the local market before consideration is given to imports.

Appleton opined that whoever is responsible for suggesting that the demand outweighs supply is up to “mischief.”

“A lot of things have been stirring up because somebody is just mischievous like before,” she said. “I know at least one fisherman who would love to sell his fish locally. But Guyanese fish is cheaper so that’s what they (the supermarkets) go for. They don't buy it locally.

“That is why fishermen have turned to exporting because they have a difficult time selling locally due to the amount that is coming in.”

Fisherman Eli Fuller however believes that Ms. Appleton has failed to shed light on several main issues like the fact that Parrotfish has never been caught at the level it is now and he believes one of the reasons it is not selling locally is because there is simply not a market for it.

This lends weight to Epicurean’s reasons for reducing demand. Antigua & Barbuda is known to supply the fish to Guadeloupe, where the market exists.

“Parrotfish is not a delicious fish. People are not making the decision not to buy in the supermarkets because of the price. The reason we are catching and exporting as much is because Guadeloupe can’t get enough fish of any sort,” Fuller said.

He also opined that one of the reasons Guyanese fish might be having something of a monopoly in the local market is because what is being imported is generally easier to catch in Guyana and is available in much larger quantities.

And contrary to Appleton’s statement that there has not been much of a change in export levels, there has actually been a “dramatic increase” in this regard. He suggested that the Chief Fisheries Officer review the data that should be available to her.

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