The Natural Resources Conservation Authority, NRCA and the National Irrigation Commission, NIC, today signed a three year Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate the monitoring of the Black River and its environs.   

Under the MOU, both parties will have specific responsibilities as they cooperate to manage the monitoring activities. The NRCA through the National Environment and Planning Agency, NEPA, will provide a 17 foot Boston Whaler Boat (Ms. Ramsar) to traverse the 25 mile navigable length of the River. NEPA will have full responsibility for the servicing and maintenance of the vessel. The NIC will provide personnel to man the vessel and will, among other things, have responsibility for the daily patrolling, monitoring and berthing of the boat.  

Speaking this morning at a meeting hosted by NEPA’s CEO, Mr. Peter Knight, Chairman of the NRCA Board, Mrs. Shirley Williams said the collaboration would serve to reduce and ultimately remove the threats to the numerous endangered species in the ecologically diverse areas within and surrounding the Black River. She also spoke of the need for increased monitoring in the area alongside NEPA’s role in prosecuting those individuals and entities involved in pollution activities. She said the new partnership would also address issues concerned with overfishing in the Black River. Chairman of the NIC, Oliver Nembhard welcomed the partnership and gave a firm commitment that his organization would endeavour to fulfill all its obligations under the agreement. He spoke about the urgent need to thwart illegal fishing in the Black River and also voiced concern about recent pollution activities. 

The MOU shall be subject to an annual review. click here to view MOU