Two leading industry bodies in Barbados’ fishing sector are honoring the life and legacy of Dr Shelly-Ann Cox, the nation’s Chief Fisheries Officer, who passed away recently. The Barbados National Union of Fisherfolk Organisations (BARNUFO) and the Central Fish Processors Association (CFPA), both led by president Vernel Nicholls, have issued public statements of grief and tribute to the late public servant.
In statements released jointly on behalf of both organizations, Nicholls extended heartfelt condolences to Dr Cox’s immediate family, close friends, professional colleagues and all those who knew her well. He remembered Dr Cox as an unwaveringly committed public servant whose decades of work left an indelible, positive mark on the entire Barbadian fishing industry.
Nicholls emphasized that Dr Cox left the community far too early in her career, highlighting the depth of expertise, steady leadership and contagious passion she brought to advancing the nation’s fisheries every day. He specifically noted her consistent advocacy for adopting new technology, scaling innovative practices and creating more opportunities for young people to join and lead the sector.
Among Dr Cox’s most critical contributions, Nicholls pointed to her work in disaster preparedness and post-storm recovery for fishing communities. After Hurricane Beryl swept through the region, Dr Cox worked around the clock to educate fishers on critical hurricane safety protocols, while pulling together cross-stakeholder collaboration, streamlining inter-agency communication and coordination, organizing critical logistics and leading on-the-ground recovery efforts. Her long-term goal was to build a more resilient, forward-looking framework for disaster risk management that would protect the fishing sector for future generations.
“As we mourn this devastating loss, we sincerely pray that divine strength and comforting peace will surround Dr Cox’s family, friends, co-workers, and all fisherfolk leaders across the country in this difficult time,” Nicholls added.