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The late afternoon is drawing to a close. For the island’s commercial fishermen, the workday is over. It’s the perfect time to ask Rudy Aubin, president of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Committee, about the industry’s challenges. Before the committee’s 2026 registration session on Friday, May 29, the organization had 28 boats. However, the conversation begins with the topic of sargassum and the partnership with the Collectivité.
“We help as best we can”
The partnership agreement, which allocates a €120,000 grant to the committee for sargassum control efforts, was renewed on May 15. “The initial agreement was short-term, so we had to make sure we weren’t working in a vacuum,” explains Rudy Aubin. “Between April 20 and early May, we carried out six operations. Each time, we have to find people on short notice. At least two boats with four people on board to be effective. It’s not always easy. But we have a group of eleven to thirteen people who respond quickly.”
Mobilizing the boats, ensuring that dump trucks are available for transport on land—when the alert is given the day before for the next day—the constraints are numerous for fishing professionals. “We try to help as best we can,” says the committee chairman. “There’s no magic solution. The goal is to have less and less to collect. During our last outing, which lasted thirteen hours, we filled between nine and ten dumpsters—each holding about 2.5 tons—with Sargassum.”
Possible Resumption of the Processing Plant Project
In addition to this contribution to the fight against the brown algae invasion, which also disrupts fishermen’s activities, the committee is exploring several ideas for developing the industry. Naturally, the project to create a fish processing plant is being discussed. This project was originally launched to address the lack of local consumption of rockfish, which is exported in large quantities. For now, it is on hold. “The idea behind processing was to allow for better control,” explains Rudy Aubin. “But the project got out of hand. We went from export control to a processing plant, which created a lot of resistance. We ended up with a project that was too big, so we cut it short. But a revival is possible, on a reasonable scale.”
Securing the Fuel Agreement
Other issues are on the minds of the members of the fisheries committee. Such as securing the long-term future of the fuel price agreement signed with the Territorial Collectivity. But also continuing to collaborate with the Multiprofessional Economic Chamber (CEM) to strengthen training offerings. An area in which the situation, Rudy Aubin assures us, has greatly improved. As for business, it has been fairly good this season. “Things are moving along,” says the president, who adds a caveat: “Depending on the time of year, it all depends on who’s buying on the island, whether products are coming in from outside and competing with us, and so on. The season has been tougher for pelagic species and spiny lobster. There are still quite a few of us fishermen in a rather limited area.” An observation that, once again, gives pause for thought. “In the sales market, we feel there are a lot of us,” notes Rudy Aubin. “There are sometimes tensions, so we have discussions about that.”
An “area to boost” around the fish market
Furthermore, while the fishermen are certainly pleased with the quality of the infrastructure at the new market, located at La Pointe on the Rockefeller site, Rudy Aubin believes it will be necessary to “boost the area.” He explains: “There isn’t much there, and we have fewer people than when we were on the other side of the harbor. The idea is to put up a sign at the entrance to Gustavia pointing the way to the fish market and indicating what’s available there every day.”
While Saint Barthélemy’s fishing fleet is relatively young, succession remains a major challenge. This involves access to training as well as fishing licenses. Furthermore, to continue developing the industry in a sustainable manner and to promote local seafood products, the committee plans to leverage events such as the Gourmet Festival—in which professionals played an active role during the 2025 edition—or the Saint-Barth Fishing Tournament. And when the issue of supply is raised, the committee chair reminds us: “The island is small. It’s not just the restaurants; there are residents too.” Who should venture more often to the new fish market.
