Hurricane Beryl: One Year Later

One year has elapsed since the passage of Hurricane Beryl; a category 4 hurricane which sent destructive storm surges towards the island of Barbados as it passed to the south of the island. Towering and powerful waves broke through the existing breakwater of the Bridgetown Fisheries Complex, which subsequently damaged over 200 fishing vessels that sheltered there.

All hands were on deck in the recovery which immediately began. Parts and pieces of vessels, damaged fuel pumps, and a myriad of other materials were cleared from the waters of the complex; an operation that took tremendous planning, teamwork, and a resilience of wills. Through a collaboration of public and private sector funding, the fishing industry is on its way to being more resilient than ever before, with jetty repairs, a new breakwater being constructed, boats being relaunched in the water, new legislation enacted and increased efforts around insurance in the industry are being made.

Today we celebrate the resilience of the Barbados Fishing Industry and continue to Harbour Hope for the sustainable development of our beloved sector.