The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Environment Fund (SVGEF) marked one year since the signing of the Orca Protection Agreement on Jan. 16, a landmark partnership with the whalers of Barrouallie to end the hunting of orcas in the country.
In January 2025, the Barrouallie whalers decided to cease the hunting of orcas in exchange for the deployment of two artisanal fish aggregating devices (FADs) to support alternative tuna fishing livelihoods.
The agreement was developed through continued dialogue and collaboration, recognising the need to balance marine conservation with the livelihoods and realities of coastal communities that rely on them.
“One year on, the Orca Protection Agreement continues to stand as an example of what is possible when conservation efforts are shaped in partnership with communities,” SVGEF said in a press release.
The anniversary discussion, held at the Barrouallie Fisheries Complex, provided space for reflection on the financial and cultural sacrifices made, the technical and operational progress of the agreement, and the shared commitment to protecting the marine environment while continuing to support coastal livelihoods.
Present at the anniversary were all the members of the Barrouallie whaling community and the SVGEF team who signed the milestone agreement in January 2025.
The meeting was also attended by key partners, including community representatives from Barrouallie, partner NGOs, and members of the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Attendees included Samuel Hazelwood, chief whaler of Barrouallie and whalers Oscar Richardson, Kwando Coombs and Arden Rock; fishermen Lennox Stephen and Shaneford Dennie; Attorney General Louise Mitchell, Central Leeward MP and Minister of Fisheries, Land & Marine Conservation & Climate Change, Conroy Huggins; Clare Brook – CEO of the Blue Marine Foundation; Kenrick Chambers, executive director of the SVG Conservation Fund; Stephan Hornsey – SVGEF Executive Director; Arden Alves of Blue Caribbean Foods Inc.; and fisheries officers Chimell Martin and Shamal Connell.
The SVGEF, which facilitated the 2025 agreement with the Barrouallie whalers, reaffirmed its commitment in 2026 to supporting the Barrouallie community through conservation initiatives that protect marine biodiversity while respecting the livelihoods of local communities.
Reflecting on the decision taken over a year ago, the Barrouallie whalers acknowledged that while the transition required sacrifice, they all agreed it was ultimately the right step forward.
“We lost a lot because we … stopped catching the orca, and we did it with the view that no one would still come and try to deprive (us) from hunting the other cetaceans we catch. So, we made a compromise,” Hazelwood said.
The Minister should also look closely at the TRITRI issue in SVG on the Leeward side. The seine men and women are having problems with catching fish for months. I believe the TRITRI industry is causing this problem because the TRITRI is support go back to sea to grow into fish that grow to be available to the seine fisher folks. Ban TRITRI for 3 to 5 years to examine if it has an effect on catching fish.