Twelve young Tobagonians are now trained in building fish pots and fishnets, which is expected to boost the fishing industry. The participants, aged 18 to 35 years, were offered the training through the All Tobago Fisherfolk Association’s (ATFA) collaboration with Shell Trinidad Limited, and were the first cohort of trainees in the apprenticeship project.

During the graduation ceremony (February 28^th), ATFA President Curtis Douglas praised the efforts of the graduates and said the programme could help in improving Tobago’s fishing communities.

“The fishing community has engaged in a skill-building process so that fisherfolk and young fishers could be able to be sustainable…young fisherfolk would now be able to fabricate or construct a fish pot from start to finish and that would entail a level of welding,” Douglas said.

Secretary for Food Security, Natural Resources, the Environment and Sustainable Development, Nathisha Charles-Pantin, echoed the importance of professional development. 

“To have a skill like building fish pots and fishnets is a very useful skill, and of course, this is all part of succession planning so that the young people will become empowered, and they can form their own businesses and they don’t have to become totally dependent on the THA,” she said.

Charles-Pantin indicated that financial and economic empowerment were part of the mandate of the Division.  

During the event, THA Chief Secretary Hon. Farley Augustine presented the trainees with their programme certificates.