Statia to be ‘hooked’ on new fishing app | THE DAILY HERALD

“Networking” with Statia fishermen on Lower Town, St. Eustatius, are, from left: John Sandiford of UX Designer and owner of Antonio Media, Teresa Leslie (St. Eustatius Foundation, fisherman Maxwell “Maxie” Spanner, Milan Jezic von Gresseneck (EU Innovation), Gilberto Maduro, St. Eustatius harbour personnel and Sheridan Schmidt (SEF)

 

ST. EUSTATIUS–The concept of a smartphone app that could transform the Caribbean fishing industry has been launched on St. Eustatius. To be introduced as a test project early next year, the fishing app is to link the local daily catch directly to the demand on the regional market.

This innovative concept will be realized by St. Maarten-born John Sandiford, a User Experience (UX) designer and owner of Antonio Media Company.

“Traditionally, the local fish and lobster catch is sold dockside or sent to St. Maarten or St. Barths on a speculative boat ride,” explains Sandiford.

“However, the cost of the boat ride from the port of departure does not always justify the cash collected for the boat load at the port of destination. Our app will promote a more realistic market place for buyers and sellers alike. It will save time and money.”

Buyers will certainly benefit, according to Sandiford. “Newspapers and fish have the shortest of all product shelf lives. Every year for at least six months, St. Maarten and St. Barths are host to more than 500 mega-yachts. Every mega-yacht cook wants fresh fish on board. Fish flown in from the Paris market of Rungis the same day is not quite the same. Neither is frozen fish from Iceland that has been caught the month before.”

Sandiford expects fine-dining restaurant chefs throughout the Caribbean to join the app eventually. “In the future, yacht provisioners and selected supermarkets will no longer have to chase around everywhere in the Caribbean for fresh fish when supply seems difficult. They will fish-snatch the catch as it is landed on the boat before it is landed on the dockside.”

One supermarket chain that delivers to mega-yachts and to fine-dining restaurants on St. Maarten has already insisted that it be included in this virtual fish market reality.

“We specialise in promoting locally-grown produce wherever and whenever the local growing season allows,” says the firm’s marketing advisor. “If we can deliver fresh snapper, grouper, tuna or wahoo from local waters and not from the cargo hold of an Air France or KLM jet plane, we shall earn reputation and repeat business.”

“Every fisherman on St. Eustatius has already agreed to use this technology. What is amazing is how the older the fishermen, the keener they are to use the technology. By owning the market process instead of being owned by the market, our fishermen in the region will ensure a more equitable and sustainable fishing industry,” commented Dr. Teresa Leslie, Director of St Eustatius Foundation (SEF) Teresa Leslie, who is facilitating the European Union-led innovation on the island.

Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/77485-statia-to-be-hooked-on-new-fishing-app

LEAVE A REPLY