By NATARIO McKENZIE
Tribune Business Reporter
nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net
The Bahamas Commercial Spongers Association’s president believes this nation has failed to capitalise on the sector’s ‘value added’ component for too long.
Lynward Saunders said the industry’s economic importance of the industry cannot be understated, adding that its revival was a key step in unlocking Andros’s untapped potential.
During a presentation at the fourth annual Andros Business Outlook conference, Mr Saunders said the revival of the island’s sponging industry would create numerous employment opportunities.
“It will create jobs for fisherman, jobs in packing houses and jobs in the value added sector, which we need to develop. For too long the valuable raw material has gone out of this country only to be enhanced by others. We need to change that,” said Mr Saunders.
“The economic importance of this nation’s sponging industry cannot be understated. Andros has great potential, much of which is untapped. For many years Andros has been referred to as a sleeping giant.
“I don’t want Andros to be asleep any more. I want to change the way we do business in Andros, starting with the sponging industry. This is something that I believe in. I believe that the sponging industry can contribute greatly to our economy.”
Mr Saunders added that Mangrove Cay had a long and successful history in the Bahamas’ sponging industry.
“Mangrove Cay plays a large part in the sponging industry because of its closeness to the mud,” Mr Saunders explained, referring to a 140-mile-long, 40-mile-wide shoal off Andros where sponge is said to be in abundance.
Mr Saunders added that after the 1938 sponge blight, which saw the local industry collapse, the population of Mangrove Cay reduced significantly.
The Bahamas’ sponging industry is readying for a revival via $1.2 million in grant funding from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), a deal that is expected to be sealed in the coming weeks.
Comments
sheeprunner12 8 years, 8 months ago
How do they explain getting 10% of what the price for sponge is going for in Florida??????
ThisIsOurs 8 years, 8 months ago
Is sponging sustainable? Once the industry starts to blossom can the sponge be over harvested? Or does it replenish itself quickly? I asked someone this question just last week.
sheeprunner12 8 years, 8 months ago
Again ................... go look at the millions being made in Florida for decades
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