St. John to Get New, State-of-the-Art Fish Market if Bill Approved by Senate Becomes Law

ST. JOHN — After years of not having an official fish market, St. John will in the coming months be the location of a state-of-the-art fishing facility that will not only have an area for vending fish but a slipway for boats to dock.

The full Senate on Thursday approved an Act appropriating $920,000 to the V.I. Port Authority for the construction of an aesthetically pleasing Cruz Bay fish market and to modify the existing concrete boat ramp and bulkhead at the Little Cruz Bay Dock, Cruz Bay Quarter; and appropriating $580,000 to the Department of Public Works for the construction of a boat dock and slipway at Enighed Pond on the island of St. John.

Named Bill No. 34-0089, the measure is sponsored by Senators Janelle Sarauw and Steven D. Payne Sr. The Act was presented to the Committee on Rules and Judiciary on Wednesday, where Mr. Payne said fishermen of St. John have had to endure the hardship of trying to earn a living and support their families in almost inhumane conditions for a very long time.

“They have had to clean and prepare their catch of the day on a makeshift dock at a makeshift market that they built on their own. The market was completely destroyed in 2017 by the hurricanes,” he informed lawmakers while seeking their support for what he described as a better working condition for the fishermen.