Local Fisherfolk Partner with Sandals to Boost Seafood Supply

Participants of the Sandals St. Vincent Fisherfolk Workshop, along with Senior Purchasing Manager at the company’s corporate office, Matthew Flynn.

By S.Browne. Updated 4:03 p.m., Wednesday, October 22, 2025, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).

Local fisherfolk joined representatives from Sandals Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) for two days to explore ways to strengthen the seafood supply chain and improve quality.

On Tuesday, October 14, representatives from Sandals SVG joined President of the National Fisherfolk Organization (NFO), Winsbert Harry, and the Barrouallie Fishing Cooperative’s executive team for a site visit to a proposed storage and processing facility in Barrouallie.

The team identified areas for improvement, including investments in storage, ice supply, and handling infrastructure, all aimed at meeting resort-grade standards for quality and efficiency. Discussions also explored expanding the range of species available for supply, including options such as Butterfish (Coral Trout) and various types of Grouper, alongside the resort’s regular seafood varieties.

The collaboration continued on Wednesday, October 15, when Sandals hosted a one-day workshop at the resort for representatives from the NFO and local cooperative members. The session focused on understanding seafood demand by species and seasonality, assessing realistic catch volumes, reviewing pricing structures, and mapping out logistics for direct delivery to the resort.

Participants also discussed training requirements in key areas, such as quality control, proper handling, and cold storage management, to meet international hospitality standards.

As an outcome of the workshop, all parties agreed to initiate a trial programme focusing on tuna, supported by the recent installation of Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) that have increased tuna availability. The NFO will finalise a target species list and share a proposed delivery structure in the coming weeks, with training sessions to be arranged before the trial’s commencement to ensure consistency in quality and traceability.

Senior Purchasing Manager from SRI, Matthew Flynn, said: “This partnership represents the best of what Sandals stands for, connecting tourism with community development. By investing in local capacity and strengthening the seafood supply chain, we are creating meaningful opportunities for Vincentian fisherfolk while providing our guests with the freshest taste of the Caribbean.”

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This information was sourced from a press release sent to us by Sandals St. Vincent and the Grenadines.