Invasion of Foreign Fishermen Continues Off Tobago Coast: Fisherfolk Call for Coast Guard Intervention
President of A.T.F.A. Curtis Douglas says Tobago fishermen continue to encounter foreign fishermen near shore.
Scarborough, Tobago – April 18, 2024 – Tobago fishermen report a persistent issue: they continue to encounter foreign fishermen operating within just a few miles off the island’s coast. Curtis Douglas, President of the All Tobago Fisherfolk Association, stated that too often, they meet fishermen from Barbados and Venezuela. These foreign vessels are typically fishing for flying fish and sometimes exhibit aggressive behavior.
Worse yet, Douglas says that calls for help from the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard in such situations are often futile. This highlights a critical challenge in protecting Tobago’s fishing grounds and ensuring the safety of local fisherfolk from unauthorized foreign fishing activity. The ongoing presence of foreign fishermen in Tobago waters remains a major concern for the local industry.
