Almost a year after he first tabled a resolution on the fishing industry, Opposition senator, Christopher Tufton, has renewed his call for a rescue plan for the sector.

Last year Senator Tufton tabled a resolution in the Upper House, highlighting the dramatic decline in the size and quality of fish catches and the further devastation wrought by Hurricane Ivan in 2004.

He said these factors had severely undercut the livelihood and fortunes of approximately 40,000 fishermen and 300,000 Jamaicans overall.

Accordingly, he called for the establishment of a joint select committee of Parliament to examine and make recommendations regarding all aspects of the operations of the fishing industry towards achieving its sustainable recovery and development.

Like many other items before both houses of Parliament, the Tufton resolution 'fell off' the order paper with the expiry of the 2006/07 legislative year. He therefore had to reintroduce it for the new legislative session.

There is, as yet, no indication when this resolution will be debated.