Fisherfolk from St. Catherine and St. Mary who were subject to Covid 19 lock downs earlier this year, and were unable to go to sea, will receive grant vouchers from the government in short order.

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Floyd Green, made the announcement in parliament this afternoon.

He noted that some 260 fishers across the two parishes will benefit from the funding, which totals $8 m.

The grants will cover losses suffered to their fishing equipment during the lock down periods.

In the meantime, fisherfolk across the rest of the island will also receive assistance from the government.

Mr. Green noted that a total of 4,740 licensed fishers across 137 fishing communities will benefit from grants totalling $67 m.

Each fisher will receive a $15,000 voucher to purchase fishing gear.

He noted that the remaining $37 m to be distributed across fishing communities will be allocated through the national fisheries authority under the fisheries incentive programme.

In addition, approximately 72 registered fish farmers engaged in aquaculture production who had challenges in procuring feed, will receive grants vouchers with a total value of $20 m.

And, the ornamental fish producing sub-sector will receive just over $1 m to facilitate the provision of brine shrimp as feed to breeders, as well as fish feed and support for infrastructure development.

The total assistance package for fishers amounts to $120 m.