MOA Interns reflection on their day at Sea by Samaar Davis, Ishmael Davis, Jahliesha Michael

On Monday the 9th of July, a group of interns participated in the Ministry of Agriculture’s summer internship program designed to expose young people to real-world practices in small-scale fisheries. Before setting sail, the group met two fishermen, Captain Smooth and Captain Flex, who demonstrated how to construct traditional fish pots. They explained the importance of sustainable fishing and highlighted the materials used such as wattle, which provides weight and durability, lasting longer than steel, which tends to rust over time.

Interns were then split into two groups: one joining the Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force Coast Guard on their interceptor vessel, and the other boarding a traditional fishing boat operated by Captain Henry’s crew. The vessels traveled a few miles northwest of Antigua, where two fish pots were deployed.

Each intern had a unique experience. Samaar, who was on the Coast Guard vessel, shared that she felt nervous when leaving the dock, especially since she couldn’t swim. However, with her life vest on and encouragement from the crew, she quickly got comfortable and enjoyed sitting outside the vessel during the trip. Her favorite moment was when the captain demonstrated a drifting maneuver, which she described as exciting. Another intern, Koden, also boarded the Coast Guard boat and described the ride as both thrilling and overwhelming. At first, he was skeptical about the vessel’s safety, but once it reached deeper water, the captain accelerated, and Koden expressed that it felt like the boat moved at incredible speeds up to at least 100 miles per hour. The fun quickly turned into nausea for many aboard, with almost everyone feeling seasick. Though Koden didn’t vomit, he felt lightheaded. He still recalled the high-speed drifting as the most unforgettable part of the day.

Jahlisha also sailed with the Coast Guard and had taken medication to prevent seasickness, which helped initially. However, as the waves grew rougher and rain began to fall, she too fell ill and was escorted to the back of the boat, where she joked that she “fed the fishes.” Despite the discomfort, she stayed alert enough to witness a swordfish diving past their vessel a moment that impressed her due to the fish’s speed. She praised the Coast Guard team for their professionalism, saying they were not only helpful and knowledgeable but made the experience enjoyable despite the rough conditions.

On the fisherman’s boat, Ishmael had a more traditional marine experience. He observed as many of his fellow interns got the opportunity to steer the vessel. Despite the rough waters and seasickness that forced many of them to lie down on the floor of the boat for relief, they managed to catch four fish one using fishing line and three from the fish pots. The group traveled to two different fishing spots, and once they returned to dock, a group of the interns, Ishmael being among them, cleaned a fish on the vessel.

By 2 p.m., all vessels were back at the dock.
A group of interns completed their journey (Ishmael being among them) by preparing and enjoying the fish they caught. The day offered far more than a meal; it gave each intern a lasting memory of life at sea. Some were exhilarated, others queasy, but all walked away with valuable insight into the world of fisheries.