Tobago fisherfolk warn public fish prices will rise following oil spill

(Trinidad Guardian) As clean-up efforts continue across southwest Tobago, fisherfolk are warning customers that fish prices will go up.

Guardian Media yesterday interviewed several Tobago fishermen who lamented the timing of the oil spill from the Gulf Stream. They said now that Lent has started, more people will be buying fish as they fast from meat and meat products.

However, the fishermen said because they will be unable to ply their trade because of the oil slick off Canoe Bay, which spans between Scarborough to Lambeau, prices will be affected.

All Tobago Fisherfolk vice president Junior Quashie said it was not their intention to burden people’s pockets but he noted there is now a limited supply of fish.

“The people who observe Lent and come to Tobago to get fish to go back to Trinidad, they will feel the pinch. We would not kill them with price, but I know they would feel it because they might not get, since there is a limited number of fish for people to get. Now, our price may not raise, because we are very kind-hearted and loving people, but let us hope this thing could be solved very quickly,” Quashie said.

Other fishermen complained that they had been forced to fork out money to fix their boats, which have been affected by the oil spill.

“When I came back with the boat last week, I shut down. I really shut down. When I was thinking it was gas it wasn’t, because there was lots of gas in the boat, but oil got into it and today (yesterday), my boat was not starting and now my friend’s boat is not working properly,” said fisherman Owen Cox.

He said he could not guarantee fish prices would stay the same.

“The fish price is going to have to raise and it will have to raise, it can’t stay one way all the time,” Cox lamented.The fishermen said they are also worried about the long-term impact of the spill on the sea and how it may affect their livelihoods.

Meanwhile, T&T nationals living abroad and who returned home for vacation are also worried about the environmental impact. Melika Delpesh, who returned to Tobago from New York, was sceptical about heading to the beach to relax.

“It doesn’t look like it is affecting this area but in the back of your mind, you still feel like it may have reached on this side,” she said.