Forty-two eager youngsters between the ages of 7-13 took to Port St. Charles on 17 April for the 2026 Ebony Anglers Fishing Fundamentals Junior Angler Camp. As a part of the Barbados Fisheries Division's committment to attracting young people to the fishing industry, we partnered with the Ebony Anglers, a group of black, female anglers from North Carolina, Barbados Game Fishing Association, Innovators HQ, and Don Shark Aquatics to teach Barbadian youth the fundamentals of fishing.
The day started off with a welcome from the Chief Fisheries Officer, Dr. Shelly-Ann Cox and the Ebony Anglers Gia Peebles, Lesleigh Mausi, Glenda Turner, and Tiana Davis. The rest of the morning focused around five stations which taught 1. Knot Tying, 2. Parts of the Fishing Rod, 3. Casting, 4. Fish Species Identification, and 5. Barbados' Dolphinfish Tagging Program. This was followed by a talk on ocean conservation by Nikola Simpson of Sustainable Caribbean.
After an enriching period of theory, the campers were able to apply their newly learned skills and knowledge out at sea! Split between five boats (Legacy, Remember Me Now, Lucky Penny, Gryphon, and Sea Hunter), the campers were taken sailing, and were even able to land fish of their own!
After a delicious lunch at Pier One, the campers were able to make a splash while being taught swimming and survival skills by Don Shark Aquatics. After all, the number one thing that matters for life at sea is being comfortable around the water.
We are extremely grateful to be able to offer this free camp to Barbadian youth, which would not have been possible without our sponsors. Special thanks goes out to: Carter's Fisherman's Corner, Silver Moon Catamaran Cruises, Blue Shell Productions, Republic Bank, and Marine Power Solutions.
Instilling a love for the ocean into the future of Barbados is at the core of our remit; sustainable fisheries. Encouraging the campers through initiatives such as this will build future ocean stewards who love and use the marine resources of Barbados in a sustainable manner.