By NATARIO McKENZIE
Tribune Business Reporter
nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net
FISHERMEN said yesterday there was “absolutely no doubt” that Dominicans were carrying out “well funded” poaching operations in Bahamian waters, the head of the Bahamian Commercial Fishers Alliance urging authorities to simply “follow the paper trail”.
Commenting on the apprehension of a 70 foot Dominican fishing vessel and 40 persons suspected of illegal poaching near Andros on Saturday, Adrian Laroda said the fact that the fishermen had been able to get some 80-90 miles into this country’s fishing zone was “most vexing”.
“They can no longer plead ignorance. They were definitely poaching. These guys were targeting a certain area,” said Mr LaRoda.
He added that such operations were supplying restaurant chains in Florida. “This is the information that the fishermen know, and if we know this the authorities should also know this. All they need to do is simply follow the paper trail,” Mr LaRoda said.
He added that reports that Royal Bahamas Defence Force Officers (RBDF) were engaged in an aggressive chase and hostile response from the poachers confirmed claims Bahamian fishermen had been making for years.
“We are being threatened out there. When we told people how bold these guys would get, they didn’t believe us. These poachers are well versed in full military tactics. They were prepared to sacrifice three or four of their men for this boat to get away. They probably knew that those guys would have gotten a slap on the wrist,” said Mr LaRoda.
He commended the Royal Bahamas Defence Force for apprehending the poachers in the latest incident, noting that this nation was losing between $12-$20 million annually due to poaching.
“The vessels of the poachers are getting larger and larger. These guys are not just content with raiding the traps; they also take or destroy them. When the season closes for us they know that Bahamian fishermen aren’t going to be out to sea,” Mr Laroda said.
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