EDITOR, The Tribune.
I was astonished to read the minister of agriculture is considering shortening the closed season on the Nassau grouper.
The Nassau grouper is identified as endangered on the IUCN Red List, having virtually disappeared from countries where once it was plentiful. Some years ago, legislation was enacted under the FNM government for a closed season to protect the Nassau grouper for future generations.
It is because of this signature law that Bahamian fishermen are today still able to work this industry with a reasonable degree of success.
During the full moons of the closed season, the Nassau grouper aggregate to mate and thus, continue the very survival of their species. This is when they are most vulnerable to exploitation.
Any thought of allowing for further decimation when the Nassau grouper is engaged in the act of ensuring its very existence must be rejected outright.
To do otherwise would be extremely shortsighted and will likely lead to the collapse of this very important resource here in The Bahamas. If the fishermen are hurting now, what will they do when there are no more grouper to sell? What will their children do?
Not only will the fishermen hurt, but one of our few food resources will be placed in peril.
ATHENA DAMIANOS
Nassau,
September 23, 2017
Comments
DDK 6 years, 7 months ago
Thank you for that Ms. Damianos. I, too, was very surprised and trust Ministry of Agriculture will sensibly keep the closed season in place. This is not a forum for garnering votes. Could you imagine life in our Bahamas without a Sunday morning boiled grouper?
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