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Fish farming in USVI: ‘What is wrong with us over here?’- Violet Thomas-Gaul

A fish farm. Talk show host Violet Thomas-Gaul believes the Virgin Islands should have long been engaging in aquaculture and has lamented that the US Virgin Islands has gone ahead with plans. Photo: the healthyfish.com
With Governor of the US Virgin Islands (USVI) Albert A. Bryan Jr recently announcing plans for a fish farming project in that territory, talk show host Violet Thomas-Gaul, centre, has expressed disappointment that the Virgin Islands has not advanced any such plans despite having the information. Right is Elvin Grant and left is Damion C. Grange. Photo: Facebook
With Governor of the US Virgin Islands (USVI) Albert A. Bryan Jr recently announcing plans for a fish farming project in that territory, talk show host Violet Thomas-Gaul, centre, has expressed disappointment that the Virgin Islands has not advanced any such plans despite having the information. Right is Elvin Grant and left is Damion C. Grange. Photo: Facebook
The fish farming system being proposed in the US Virgin Islands includes raising fish in inland nurseries before transferring them to submerged cages at depths of 150-200 feet in offshore waters. Photo: VIC
The fish farming system being proposed in the US Virgin Islands includes raising fish in inland nurseries before transferring them to submerged cages at depths of 150-200 feet in offshore waters. Photo: VIC
BAUGHERS BAY, Tortola, VI- With Governor of the US Virgin Islands (USVI) Albert A. Bryan Jr recently announcing plans for a fish farming project in that territory, talk show host Violet Thomas-Gaul has expressed disappointment that the Virgin Islands has not advanced any such plans despite having the information.

Speaking on Talking Points on ZBVI 780 AM on Monday, September 30, 2024, Thomas-Gaul noted that the hosts of the show have always been looking at ways to help the government find revenue.

She said back in August 2022 they had Environmental Specialist Mr Clive Petrovic on the show and he was saying the government should open up a fish farm to help bring in revenue.

“We haven’t done anything about it. At least I haven’t heard anything about it but here….yesterday, the 29th, fish farming programme to launch in the USVI?

“What is wrong with us over here?” Thomas-Gaul asked.

Elvin Grant not surprised

Co-host Elvin Grant commented that both the Premier and the Junior Minister for Agriculture have been on the show and spoken about “grand plans” for agriculture but have been unable to deliver.

“Again, this is not something that is unique to this government. There have been promises from the time Jesus was a boy up to now, about various promises to rejuvenating agriculture and it has not happened.

“So, the fact that we could have a show two years ago and some of the techniques and some of the revenue measures that were being discussed are being co-opted, for the want of a better word, by our friends and family from the USVI is not news,” Mr Grant stated.

Mr Grant also noted that there is talk now in the USVI that there is going to be a surcharge from all international wire transfers, including banks, emanating from the USVI, suggesting that is something that should have been done here and not just to tax money transfer services using Western Union and Moneygram.

See related article below:

Fish farming programme to launch in USVI

14 Responses to “Fish farming in USVI: ‘What is wrong with us over here?’- Violet Thomas-Gaul”

  • HMMM (01/10/2024, 11:31) Like (12) Dislike (1) Reply
    Looks to me like they gave Governor Bryan all the plans of the BVI. Set of children
    • Real (01/10/2024, 11:59) Like (9) Dislike (3) Reply
      FIRST OF ALL FISH FARMING IS NOT NEEDED IN THE BVI AS THE FISH USED FOR THIS MOSTLY TALIPIA RESPECT NATURE AND LET LIVE FARM FISH OR NOT SAFE OR NATURAL
      • bvi (01/10/2024, 20:16) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        You are incorrect in saying mostly tilapia since they usually live fresh water. The reason we bvi don’t want farmed fish is because they are fed pellets, they are normally jacked up on antibiotics due to the high concentrations of fish in small spaces. The fish get fat but cannot touch the wild caught ones available in BVI.
        BVI is better off focusing on protecting juvenile and other fish habitat and controlling fishing and wastage of baitfish and catching of juvenile fish.
        • @bvi (01/10/2024, 21:17) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
          Your last paragraph needs to be a little louder for everyone in the back. Make sure our great grandchildren can go and catch fresh fish by protecting our reefs and enforcing seasons and size limits.
  • Justin Case (01/10/2024, 11:42) Like (25) Dislike (0) Reply
    Yes we do have it here, it's called Caribbean Sustainable Fisheries which grow lobster in farms just before the QEII bridge. They grow from hatchings to adult, they supply local fisherman and almost all of the resorts and restaurants.
  • resident (01/10/2024, 11:43) Like (17) Dislike (1) Reply
    A great man once said without a vision the people will perish, our leaders have no vision so we are paying the price as a result
  • It Was (01/10/2024, 12:40) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
    Many individuals wanted to do it here but ......
  • Who remembers (01/10/2024, 12:56) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    Who remembers the greenhouses next to HLSCC and all the big talk about how this was going to increase our food security...
  • Investment (01/10/2024, 13:08) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    Yes we could do it here too but do you trust our government to manage something like this? Greenhouses anyone?
  • green house (01/10/2024, 14:47) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    Agriculture head of department should have known that green houses are for northern climates. They trap heat by way of greenhouse gasses. The sun goes in and bounces around heating the air, making the environment inside the green house hotter than outside, mirroring the tropical environment in cold countries.

    We have never needed green houses in the tropics.

    At the time the deputy head of agriculture department was more educated and spoke against the green houses but was not in charge . Against educated advice... full steam ahead they paid for foreigners to come and build the greenhouses we never needed.

    BVI Politics. The million dollar green houses sat with weeds growing inside, sheep cooling out under them and eventually blew down, destroyed and dismantled without ONE purposeful plant being grown inside of the multiple green houses

  • From the US (01/10/2024, 15:20) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Expect to pay more money on food prices. The ports is going on strike. Virginia has already shut their ports down
  • rattie (01/10/2024, 18:00) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    We have this in the bvi
  • Fishing (01/10/2024, 20:01) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why not use our tuna fishing quota which is a valuable asset before starting this nonsense in the BVI. We have the licence to fish for a certain number of valuable tuna annually - so why don’t we use it??
  • I'll tell you (01/10/2024, 21:16) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    You ppl love to watch other ppl, then say what about we. You ppl love to see somebody doing something then want to follow and do exactly what you see a next person doing! God give all of us a brain to think, brainstorm and create! Alot of ppl sitting on ideas and plans but ain't acting on it....till then see another person 1st dem


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