Business View Caribbean | August 2022

9 BUSINESS VIEW CARIBBEAN VOLUME 9, ISSUE 8 A local oyster industry in Jamaica would have a “major economic impact”, according to Caribbean Employment Services Inc. CEO Joseph Boll. He was commenting on the National Fisheries Authority’s (NFA) recent encouragement for residents to become involved in local oyster production. “A local oyster industry, if environmentally sound, would provide a huge economic boost in several ways,” says Boll. “On a consumer level, oyster sales would easily be driven by and tie into the restaurant, hospitality and tourism sectors. High- end restaurants and hotels could market a local, organic oyster product to the tourists who come to visit them. Agritourism and eco tours could be created around this industry as well. This could be a huge play for Jamaica’s economy if it’s done right!” In addition to facilitating economic CEO TOUTS BENEFIT OF LOCAL OYSTER INDUSTRY FOR JAMAICA’S ECONOMY diversification, which most Caribbean regions have pushed for since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and its resultant damage to the tourism industry, Boll says a local oyster industry could help to reduce the nation’s food imports. Caribbean Employment Services Inc. is a market-leading online talent acquisition service headquartered in Barbados but operational throughout the Caribbean. It specializes in helping businesses and organizations recruit the best candidates for their roles and jobseekers find their ideal position. As such, it has closely monitored developments relating to employment and labour within the region. NFA CEO Dr. Gavin Bellamy recently underscored the industry’s potential to provide innovative and lucrative jobs in Jamaica. He notes that it would benefit not just the blue economy but other sectors as well, such as tourism, which OPENING L INES