Cedros fishermen count their losses

CHAIRMAN of the Cedros Fishing Corporative Society (CFCS) Lewis Padharat says the future looks grim for fisherfolk in his area.

He said with the recent oil spill off Platform 9 in the Soldado Main Field, fishermen are not prepared to go out at sea.

“Even though there is no oil on the shores of Icacos, Chatam, Bonase and Granville, there is oil in the water.”

He also lamented the cost of super gas when compared to regular gas which was recently taken off the market.

“I would pay $90 per tank (eight gallons) for regular gas and today I have to pay $160 per tank for super,” he said.

Padharat says there are boats with 18-gallon tanks which now takes $400 to fill.

Additional costs include oil for boats and the paying of workers.

Fishermen, he said, can no longer afford to go out at sea and come back with a small catch. “This is why many opted to cut their losses and close off for the year,” Padharat said.

Icacos Fishing Association president Esook Ali said most of the fishermen from his district, as well as neighbouring Chatham, have been forced to hang up their nets and stop fishing for the rest of the year.

Heritage Petroleum Company, the successor to Petrotrin, reported that the oil spill which occurred on Thursday was minimal, estimating the amount to be less than five barrels of oil.

Cedros councillor and former Petrotrin worker, Shankar Teelucksingh, said it was lot more than five barrels of oil in the waters.

The spillage, Shankar said, was reported in Soldado Main Field and Southwest Soldado. Fishermen in Chatham, he said, reported seeing oil within the Soldado East Field.