Foreign fishers are taking advantage of Antigua and Barbuda’s blue waters, according to Defence Chief Brigadier General Telbert Benjamin.

He says local fishermen miss out on deep-sea fishing opportunities.
Meanwhile, foreign operators move into those richer fishing areas.

He explained that most local fishermen stay close to shore.
As a result, they do not reach the more profitable offshore zones.

“The majority of our fishermen stay within our near shore area,” he said.
He added that outsiders now benefit from the blue water fishing grounds.

Additionally, he said he has raised this issue with the government before.
He stressed that the concern continues over time.

Therefore, the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force keeps pushing for more maritime assets.
He said stronger support would improve ocean protection.

“We need a platform to support that,” he said.
He also linked it to humanitarian and emergency response work.

Meanwhile, he highlighted the size of the country’s maritime area.
He said many people do not fully understand its scale.

He stated that Antigua and Barbuda controls about 110,000 square kilometres of seascapes.
However, the land area remains much smaller in comparison.

Antigua covers about 108 square miles, while Barbuda covers about 62.5 square miles.
Together, the land equals roughly 450 square kilometres.

“So our maritime space is significantly larger,” he said.
He described the nation as a large maritime state.

However, he said current resources limit the full protection of the waters.
He explained that the country cannot fully monitor its entire maritime zone.

In addition, he said the Defence Force has raised vessel needs with the government.
He confirmed ongoing discussions with the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

The Defence Force wants more vessels for the Coast Guard.
These vessels would also support trade and logistics work.

Furthermore, he stressed the need to protect economic activity at sea.
He warned that foreign use of local waters affects national income.

At the same time, he said the Coast Guard plays a key regional role.
It responds to emergencies and supports disaster relief efforts.

Therefore, he argued that a stronger maritime capacity would serve many purposes.
It would protect resources and improve emergency response.

Brigadier General Benjamin said the issue remains urgent.
He expects continued talks with the government on future upgrades.