Industry leaders call for real solutions from political hopefuls
With the General Election approaching, voters are weighing a range of concerns – including food security.
The incumbent government has called the fishing industry “a cornerstone of the island’s economy and culture,” but the Fishermen’s Association of Bermuda (FAB) argues that more must be done to safeguard its future.
As key food producers, fishermen are making it clear that at the ballot box, their vote will go to the candidate who will represent them most effectively.
“There are many issues that have plagued fishermen for decades,” said FAB president Allan Bean. “We need a government that listens to what we’re saying and respects us for what we bring to the table.”
Currently, there are around 300 registered fishermen on the island, and together with their supporters, they make up a significant voting bloc.
Fishermen warn that their industry is at risk of being crushed by overregulation and have long fought for a seat at the table when it comes to decisions about the future use of Bermuda’s waters.
They hope that the next Government of Bermuda will involve them at the ground level of decision-making.
Secretary of the FAB, Jamie Walsh, said: “We’re willing to work with anyone, but candidates and the government need to recognise that fishermen are experts in our field. We need to be treated as major stakeholders in ocean-related matters. When they perform public consultation, it can’t just be a performance – it must be real and meaningful.”
Despite all the noise the fishermen have made in recent years, they say they have seen little direct engagement from political hopefuls during the 2025 campaign.
They urge voters to ask the tough questions about their respective candidates’ tangible policies on food security.
“It’s not good enough to give a nice speech, a nice talk,” Mr Bean said. “Actions speak louder than words.”
Could the new wave of independent candidates offer a fresh perspective?
“I’m excited about the independent movement,” said Ms Walsh. “It’s great that they’re not beholden to a party line. I think we’ve bumped up against that quite often in negotiations, so I think it’s great to have candidates who can really take a look at what good management means – not with a political agenda.”
Among the key policies that fishermen have long advocated for is species-specific embargoes within certain seasons – such as May to July, when locally caught yellowfin tuna is abundant.
“Providing the conditions are right, we can catch a high volume of fish, but because of imports, the fishermen aren’t able to move that fish readily,” Mr Bean explained. The fishermen need to turn over the fish within seven days of landing it. We can’t do that if the market is flooded with imported fish.”
Beyond regulations, there is also concern about attracting younger generations to the industry, as 60% of registered fishermen are over the age of 50.
Ms Walsh stated: “The fishing industry needs to remain relevant to younger players, and it also needs to be economically viable. There are cost barriers in terms of equipment and policy changes that have made it really unattractive to get into the industry. There needs to be a better mechanism.”
Before the island heads to the ballot box on February 18, fishermen say they want political candidates who can offer viable solutions that will benefit both the industry and the island.
“We want to hear from them that, if they are successful in becoming MPs, they will be a voice on our behalf – that’s most important to our industry,” Mr Bean said.
