Above: a ceremony for the presentation of a new drone (JIS Photo)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Jamaica’s government is planning to acquire a number of new drones, with one major goal: combating illicit fishing in the country’s territorial waters.

The announcement of the planned acquisitions was made by Minister Derrick Kellier, who said the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries’ “next step is to work closely with the Ministry of National Security, with a view to identifying and sourcing drones with longer endurance, so as to increase our reach as well as our law enforcement presence within the island’s maritime jurisdiction.”

He said the drones would also be pivotal in search and rescue missions for fisherfolk stranded or reported missing.

The announcement comes after a the completion of a one-year drone pilot project.

According to Kellier, the drones could help fill “severe gaps” in Jamaica’s fisheries trade.

“The pilot project was conceptualized to test drones as well as their live feed capabilities within the marine environment, with a view to increasing law enforcement presence within the island’s jurisdiction,” Kellier said.