The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

The Government yesterday voiced concern that Queen Conch exports could be threatened if the US declares them an endangered species, creating “significant social and economic hardship” for thousands of Bahamian and regional fishermen.

Ryan Pinder, minister of financial services, who is also responsible for trade and industry, said the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will be delivering its ruling on the issue this coming Monday.

He told the sixth CARICOM-US Trade and Investment Council meeting: “The Bahamas wishes to note that the Queen Conch has been harvested in many member states, including the Bahamas, for centuries, and many depend on its harvesting for their livelihood.

“I note from the experts that CARICOM states together are the main suppliers of Queen Conch on the international markets, and that 80 per cent of all Queen Conch meat is imported into the United States.”

Mr Pinder added: “Attempts to have the Queen Conch listed as threatened or endangered under the US Endangered Species Act (ESA) would cause significant social and economic hardship for thousands of fishermen in the Caribbean, including the Bahamas, and has the potential to undermine the peace and stability of communities that depend on fishing this resource for income and their livelihoods.

“This is especially true here in the Bahamas. We have an annual export quota on conch from the Bahamas. Many small commercial fishermen depend on the small conch exports to support their families and businesses. We support sustainable and well-regulated harvest and export of conch.”

The most recent data showed that the US imports around 600,000 pound of conch, worth around $3.3 million, from the Bahamas annually. This generates around $6 million in economic value for this nation’s fisheries industry.

Elsewhere, Mr Pinder said the Bahamas’ efforts - and those of five other CARICOMN states - to obtain preferential market access to the US for more exports were being tied to improved intellectual property rights safeguards.

The Bahamas is seeking beneficiary status under the Caribbean Basin Partnership Trade Agreement (CBTPA), but the Minister said: “We note that those discussions are being tied to US concerns about the lack of protection of intellectual property rights in some member states, and the unauthorised retransmission of US-produced programming and unauthorised and uncompensated use of music.

“While the Bahamas has addressed US concerns in this area, the issue remains an unresolved concern by both sides.”

Mr Pinder added that the competitiveness of Caribbean rum in US markets was being threatened by subsidies provided by the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico to rum producers in those territories.

“We have re-commited our pressence in the rum producing industry with John Watllings Distillery, who have significant interest in the export market. This is a ripe issue for the Bahamas and we look forward to meaningful progress,” Mr Pinder said.