00:00 Now we get the majority of our bait from the capital of paradise from St. Vincent, right?
00:06 And we want to enter into this industry and with the expertise that we have
00:10 in the division and under the company the Tobago Agribusiness Development Company, TADCO and
00:16 also the ATFA and all the fisher folk
00:20 We welcome all the expertise in building out the bait industry.
00:24 Chairman of TADCO Ricardo Alfred said the project aims to aid in the diversification of Tobago's tourism thrust.
00:32 Nothing is killed in this atlet. It's live bait. So persons actually go in there.
00:38 There's a bit of tourism aspect of it because the bait will attract
00:41 other larger fish that persons can do, those who want to be involved in the catch and release type of tours and
00:51 fisher folks who in the area might definitely get the larger fish because they themselves will be looking for bait.
00:56 Mr. Alfred said carrying forms part of a critical aspect of the set net process.
01:03 It was donated by the Japanese by JICA.
01:05 Definitely is a vessel that has a very good buoyancy. It's designed to
01:10 it can take about up to 10 men that can tilt on one side without capsizing. So it was designed
01:16 because you will have to pull the bait out of the water because it's going to go into a catchment area
01:22 that needs to be
01:24 removed every morning and you sell the bait from there. So that vessel is very crucial.
01:28 Alfred said the next step is towards the implementation of a large processing plant and
01:34 with the project will bring some much-needed revenue to Tobago.
01:39 The longline industry is now regulated and it must be live bait.
01:42 So you're gonna have a lot of vessels from Trinidad coming across as well to get bait.
01:46 We only have one or two vessels in Tobago.
01:49 So the majority will definitely come from Trinidad and create some much-needed revenue for the island.
01:54 President of the Old Tobago Fisher Folk Association, Curtis Douglas said the program will boost Tobago's GDP.
02:02 Because this is to benefit us. Because when I say us, it doesn't only mean fisher folk. It's the entire
02:08 island and it will also benefit Trinidad because Trinidad boats will need to come for bait for us in Tobago.
02:15 Instead of going to Grenada. No disrespect, we love our Grenada counterparts,
02:19 but this is our turn and opportunity to grow and develop our
02:24 industry and to reap the harvest of a multi-billion dollar industry together.
02:29 TADCO is working hand in hand with the fisheries division in Trinidad and also in partnership with the Caribbean
02:37 Fisheries Institute where there is an MOU.
02:40 Elizabeth Williams, TV6 News.
02:42 news.
02:43 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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