A newly renovated fisheries facility valued at approximately EC$200,000 has been officially handed over to the Fond Cole Fisheries Cooperative, as the government continues its efforts to modernise fish landing sites and improve food safety standards across Dominica.
The upgraded facility was commissioned this week under the Ministry of Agriculture Enhancement Programme and includes improved vending spaces, storage areas, office facilities, locker rooms, upgraded drainage systems, and sanitation infrastructure.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Ryan Anselm, said the project is intended to significantly improve fisheries in the Fond Cole area. “We are very happy as part of the Ministry of Agriculture Enhancement Programme to improve fish landing sites and fisheries facilities to really build the capacity and to improve the procedures of how our fisher folks vend fish,” Anselm explained during the handover ceremony.
According to Anselm, the site’s previous conditions created difficulties for both vendors and customers, particularly regarding sanitation and food-handling practices. He stated while outlining the facility’s upgraded food safety systems, including improved septic infrastructure and drainage.
Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Roland Royer, said the Fond Cole project forms part of a wider programme aimed at upgrading fisheries facilities throughout Dominica.
He pointed to similar improvements recently carried out in Newtown, where vending facilities have also been redesigned with stronger climate resilience measures.
“You can see the nature of the facility is designed with resilience in mind,” Royer explained. “A concrete roof so that if, God forbid, an event were to occur, these facilities can return into service very quickly.”
The upgrades come as authorities continue to push modernisation efforts in Dominica’s fisheries sector, which remains an important source of employment, food security, and income for many coastal communities.
For vendors and fishers in Fond Cole, however, the project’s significance may be felt most in everyday operations. Cleaner preparation areas, improved customer access, better storage conditions, and stronger weather-resistant infrastructure are expected to change not just how fish is sold, but how the entire waterfront market environment functions moving forward.
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