Fishing the way to go for many

The next big thing in Dominica is one of the oldest professions there is. Fishing.

Dogged by a lack of employment, some in the Nature Isle have taken to the Caribbean Sea to make a living in the wake of Hurricane Maria’s passing two years ago.

And it seems the men who have chosen to roll in the deep don’t even have to go that far out to make the big bucks, one fishermen, Frenchie, told NATION ONLINE.

“We don’t have to go very far. The fish are right there. And they are plenty of them for everybody. The catches have been really good this year.”

He added that in previous years, some fishermen would have had to sail more than 15 or 20 nautical miles away from the coast of the capital, Roseau, but that had changed in recent months.

“Not now. We can go out less than five miles and come back with a big catch,” he added.

Frenchie, another new fisherman on the block, said Dominicans had reacted positively to the men choosing to go out on their own and take a risk.

“We now have customers coming down here two and three times a day. It’s been worth it,” he added.

Yesterday, the men brought in their latest bounty, massive yellowfin tuna, barracudas and hundreds of pot fish, which were snatched up in a flash by fish-loving customers.

Shankie (right) serving some customers who came to buy his yellowfin tuna haul. (Picture by Nigel Browne.)

Shankie noted that after Maria destroyed most houses and businesses, unemployment was high, especially on the coastal regions of Dominica. Quite a few youngsters took to the sea, as any boats which survived the hurricane were used mostly for fishing.

He said lucky for them, fish numbers had been extremely high all year, and most Dominicans consume fish. (BA)