Guy Harvey, the world-renowned Jamaican ocean life artist and conservationist will be back in Jamaica to see the impact of actions taken in the White River Fish Sanctuary (WRFS) since his last visit in January.
Harvey will be guest speaker at the “Evening with Guy Harvey” at Couples Sans Souci Resort in St Mary on Tuesday, October 2 and will be endorsing the “Protect, Restore, Engage (PRE)” work done during 2018’s “International Year of the Reef (IYOR).
Since it was officially gazetted in 2017, the WRFS has worked closely with members of the local fishers association to protect marine life in the sanctuary. The fishers are its cornerstone. “One hand can’t clap”, says Noel Francis (aka – Cook) an executive member of the White River Fishers Association (WRFA). “But since the fishers association and the sanctuary have come together we’ve been clapping away and are a force to be reckoned with”.
Four part-time and eight full-time wardens now patrol the sanctuary.
According to a release issued on behalf of Harvey, as part of its “500 in 5” campaign, fish stocks are clearly increasing and fishers see the impact.
Five coral nurseries have been established. Buoys now mark the sanctuary’s borders. And it has its own patrol boat – “The Interceptor”.
The event on October 2 will outline the Sanctuary’s plans (such as its the “Adopt a Warden” program) and will explain how individuals and private sector partners can get involved.
