Fishing boat tracking welcome, plea for data sharing
THE EDITOR, Madam:
I am writing with reference to The Gleaner article ‘Fishermen hail tracking technology as game changer’. This initiative represents a significant advancement for the fishing community, the maritime industry, and the Fisheries Authority. The real time tracking of fishing boats will substantially reduce risks and enable swift emergency responses. Moreover, this technology will enhance resource management by monitoring fishing zones and practices, thereby promoting sustainability.
However, it would be a great pity if the trove of data that will be generated from fishing boat tracking – along with the potentially extremely valuable collateral information – were to be wasted at base. With this wealth of data, there is a tremendous opportunity to build on the project’s initial successes by integrating environmental data such as water temperature, currents, and storm alerts into the tracking system. This would provide critical insights, improving safety and operational efficiency. Additionally, expanding the system to include data on fishing yields could aid in resource allocation and inform policy planning within the fisheries sector.
Moreover, research efforts at the Scientific Research Council (SRC), the Meteorological Division, NEPA, the universities, the press, as well as private researchers and bona fide treasure hunters, ought also to have approved access to this data. This collaboration could foster greater innovation and insight across a range of fields, benefiting the broader public interest.
I wholeheartedly applaud all those involved in this innovation and hope it serves as a model for future initiatives.
Had I still been the 28-year-old ‘young turk’ divisional director at the Scientific Research Council during the era of Prime Minister Seaga, Minister Broderick, and Executive Director Ventura, I would have advocated for hiring three additional experts in electronics, telecommunications, and meteorology from UTech, UWI, and beyond to further advance this technology for the safety and business practices of Jamaica’s fishers. My renewable energy division had previously, with UNIDO-assisted strategising, attracted significant funding – then 40 million Deutsche Mark – for green renewable energy (not delusional SMR tomfoolery), research, and sustainable projects, demonstrating our capability to implement such advancements effectively. Dr Raymond Wright’s urgings for us to join him in exploring ocean thermal renewable energy would then have aligned well with this pregnant UNDP effort in Jamaica’s seas.
On a related note, I am curious about the fate of the ‘stiftung’ German funds allocated in past years. Could the Ministry of Finance and Planning or the PIOJ provide clarity on this? The less than two per cent spent on operational mini-hydro plants and three hydro-electric pre-feasibility studies raises concerns about how the remaining 98 per cent could have been utilised for energy projects benefiting Jamaica. Why the mystery?
I trust that my public concerns are not stifled by the colonial-era Official Secrets Act and hope this message clearly conveys my critical points.
DENNIS MINOTT