The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Commercial Fishers Alliance (BCFA) wants the Government to grant a 30-day extension to the grouper season, its president telling Tribune Business this would assist fishermen who had suffered losses due to Hurricane Sandy.

The grouper season traditionally closes on December 1 for three months, reopening at the end of February. “The BCFA is asking the Government to extend the closure of the grouper season, which closes on December 1, in order to assist fishermen who had suffered loss during the hurricane and before the hurricane,” Adrian LaRoda said.

“It would be good to postpone the season and allow grouper to be harvested into January. We have already spoken with the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Mr Gray, on the matter, and we believe that this would really go a long way to fortifying the Government’s relationship with the fishermen.”

Mr LaRoda added: “We don’t believe that extending the season will really impact the fisheries stock. What it will do is help many of the fishermen recoup from a down lobster and fisheries season.

“The season hasn’t been a bust. Up until October things were going well, but because of the weather and with the passage of the hurricane, fishermen haven’t been able to be as productive. We remain hopeful and optimistic that things will turn around, and that the weather will be more favourable going forward.”