Crown Prince Haakon and Deputy Development Minister Bjørg Sandkjær joined UNDP Norway on November 18 to witness the impact of Blue Justice and the Blue Resilience project in Jamaica.
During their visit to Rocky Point village, they met local fishers who depend on sustainable, crime-free waters for their livelihoods and representatives from the Jamaican Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Mining to learn about practical solutions to fisheries crime through satellite technology.
Addressing Dual Challenges Through Technology
“Climate change is affecting us tremendously, we are having serious problems with illegal fishing from other countries,” local fisherman Derrick Osbourne told the prince and media representatives according to the Jamaican Observer . Local Member of Parliament Pearnel Charles Jr emphasized the community’s vulnerability: “Imagine living in a space where you’re selling fish depending not just on the sea but on the weather — this is it, when fishing is down everything is down.”
Regional Cooperation and Maritime Security
The establishment of the Blue Justice Caribbean Hub, launched in Jamaica in 2023, represents a significant step in regional cooperation. “I think it’s impressive to see the achievements that have been made in such a short time and to see the countries in the region working together,” Sandkjær noted. She also handed over a Blue Justice Caribbean Hub Wall plate to the Hub’s secretariat in Jamaica. The sign was a gift from the Blue Justice Global Secretariat in Oslo, Norway.
As manager of the Blue Justice Resilience project and the Blue Justice Community Platform, UNDP Norway facilitates the sharing of satellite data across borders and institutions. “Being able to track fishing vessels and also communicate in a network so that it’s easier to fight illegal fishing and make it safer for the fishermen and women that are out at sea, it was very interesting to see,” Crown Prince Haakon observed at the beach in front media, including the Jamaica Gleaner.
Practical Benefits of Tracking Systems
The technology’s practical impact is evident in daily operations. Local fisher Derek Osbourne, who recovered a drifting vessel using the tracking system, explained: “You plan yuh time better. You are able to see when the boat leaves to come to the mainland, what speed it is going, and then you are able to plan around it.”
Dr. Gavin Bellamy, CEO of the National Fisheries Authority, highlighted the emergency response capabilities: “With the trackers and the marine VHF radios, we can know where they are, and they can call and ask for help, and the Coast Guard, Marine Police, or the National Fisheries Authority can go and help them. It would be a targeted response, instead of trying to go and look for a needle in a haystack,” Bellamy says to the Jamaica Gleaner.
Future Development and Sustainability
Looking toward expansion, Dr. Bellamy emphasized comprehensive fisheries management: “We want sustainable fisheries management. That means not only stopping poachers, but increasing protected areas, tracking fishermen and their catch, and getting fish numbers up so that fishermen can get a better catch, closer to home,” he says to Jamaica Observer.
About Blue Justice
Blue Justice, hosted by Norway’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, serves as the secretariat for the Copenhagen Declaration on transnational organized crime in global fishing. The initiative unites academia, organizations, and private sector partners to strengthen public sector resilience through satellite technology and comprehensive approaches to fisheries crime.
Main photo: Norway’s Deputy Development Minister Bjørg Sandkjær hands over a Blue Justice Caribbean Hub Wall plate to the Hub’s secretariat in Jamaica. (Photo: UNDP Jamaica / Anorak Productions)
* AI has been part of writing and editing this web story.