Also present were representatives of the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre, The Pan-American Health Organization, the University of the West Indies, Caribbean Planning for Adaptation to Global Climate Change, the Institute of Marine Affairs, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency, the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States Natural Resources Management Unit. It is already apparent that the fish kills have seriously depleted the region's main source of non-imported protein, and may cost many people their livelihoods. The St. Vincent Fisheries Division reports that up to 60 percent of that nation's fishermen are currently not going out, and fish vendors have seen a 75 percent drop in sales. Exports of fish to Martinique have been halted. The other affected islands face similar losses.
Officials are concerned about other possible impacts of the fish kills.
The good news is that reports of dead fish are becoming less frequent.