Businessman and boater Eli Fuller is calling on the government to subsidise life rafts for local vessels, arguing that the high cost of critical safety equipment is putting fishermen at risk following the disappearance of three Antiguan men at sea.

Speaking in a live video, Fuller said most local fishermen cannot afford to purchase and maintain life rafts, which require costly annual servicing, leaving many vessels without a key survival tool. He said making life rafts more accessible could significantly improve survival chances in emergencies. “That should be subsidised… any local registered vessel… government should subsidise the inspection and the purchase of the life raft,” Fuller said.

Fuller also urged wider adoption of satellite tracking and emergency communication devices, including EPIRBs and GPS-based messengers, which allow distress signals to be sent even when vessels are out of cell range. He noted that such devices are relatively affordable compared with other boating costs and can help authorities quickly locate missing vessels.

In addition, Fuller highlighted the absence of basic safety practices such as filing float plans — informing someone on land where a vessel is heading and when it is expected back — which he said is critical for narrowing search areas. He also pointed to poor coordination between authorities and the boating community, saying more should be done to quickly alert fishermen and other vessels when boats go missing.

Fuller said the latest incident appears to be part of a wider pattern of preventable tragedies, stressing that stronger regulation, improved communication and better-equipped vessels are needed. He warned that without changes, similar incidents will continue to occur, describing such events as “a long list of mistakes all coming together.”