A new Dock Master has been appointed for the Bridgetown Fisheries Complex; a new and historic position at Barbados' largest landing site. This comes on the heels of the recently enacted landmark legislation - the Sustainable Fisheries Management and Development Act and its sister bill, the Sustainable Fisheries Management and Development (Seafood Markets and Businesses) Act - which aims to reform the fishing sector.
The Dock Master is now primarily tasked with overseeing vessel berthing, haul-out operations, ice delivery logistics, fish landing records, storm preparation, as well as coordinating operations in surrounding boatyards.
This is a key role, particularly in the light of climate change, where adverse weather could impact the island at any moment. The Dock Master will therefore play a significant role in safeguarding livelihoods, ensuring vessels are removed to safe harbour ahead of severe weather events and improving coordination with the Meteorological Department, integrating weather intelligence into maritime decision-making. This will ultimately help to transform the Bridgetown Fisheries Complex into a world-class facility.