The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

THE BAHAMAS Commercial Fishers Alliance (BCFA) president believes the creation of a registry is key to modernising the Fisheries Act, telling Tribune Business he supports increased regulation for the industry..

“We are involved with the discussions on updating the Fisheries Act,” said Adrian LaRoda. “We had made some contributions to that end. Our input has been very well received, and was not too far off from what the Department of Marine Resources wanted to see.

“One of the major components is fishing registration, and the process for monitoring and regulating the industry,” added Mr LaRoda.

“At the moment there is only anecdotal evidence as to how many people are employed in the fishing industry. It will not only bring further regulation to the industry in terms of how many people are involved, what is being caught and the amount of product being removed from the sea, but where the product is being exported and how it is being handled. At the moment there is a rudimentary way, but that is not always reliable.”

Mr LaRoda said the creation of a statutory Fisheries Advisory Board or council was also being discussed.”Right now, even though a council exists it is not established in statute,” he added.

“They really have no power or point of reference as to what their role is. We want to make that a statutory body.”