MONTEGO BAY, St James - Agriculture Minister Dr Christopher Tufton said a $150-million upgrade of 30 of the island's 187 fishing beaches is expected to commence within another two months."We are now doing the environmental assessment to make sure that it is complementary to the vulnerability of the sensitive eco-system on the beaches," Dr Tufton said during a public forum at the Meeting Place in Montego Bay on Thursday.

"Those beaches are going to get some basic things, such as sanitary conveniences; they will be an area for processing your fish; an area to store your fishing equipment; and signage will also be in place for all of them," he added.Funding for the project is being provided by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the European Union and the government of Jamaica.

The forum, which saw more than 150 fishermen from across the western region in attendance, was held to sensitise the fisherfolk on the draft National Fishing Policy.According to the agriculture minister, the upgrade of the beaches form part of the government's commitment to improve the conditions under which the fisherfolk work, as well as his administration's plan to streamline the fishing industry.