By NATARIO McKENZIE
Tribune Business Reporter
nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net
BAHAMIAN fishermen were said yesterday described as "not in high spirits" for the start of the 2018-2019 crawfish season, amid multiple poaching-related arrests and seizures during the closed season.
Keith Carroll, vice-president of the Bahamas Commercial Fishers Alliance (BCFA), told Tribune Business: "The majority of the boats have gone out but I can tell you they are not in high spirits. They saw what happened during the off-season, with just with some of the poachers that have been caught.
"We just hope we find something when we go out there, and get a good price when we come back in. Most of the boats that have far to go left Monday and others on Tuesday. All the boats will be out there but expectations are a bit dampened. We're still going out there and having competition with Dominicans who are being allowed to fish on Bahamian boats. Fishermen are not pleased about that at all." Carroll told Tribune Business.
In early July, 46 people on board a 70-foot Dominican fishing vessel were apprehended by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force for poaching, and found in possession of around 33,000 pounds of fishery products.
In a recent interview with Tribune Business, Michael Pintard, agriculture and marine resources minister, said a "multi-pronged" approach is needed to ensure marine protection and sustainability, adding that this cannot be confined to anti-poaching measures. He underscored the need to send a strong message to poachers, suggesting that stiffer penalties could bring about that effect.
Mr Carroll said yesterday that fishermen were "hoping and praying" that this season will not be impacted by storms. "We're always hoping and praying no storms come our way. Last year, with Hurricane Irma, a lot of fishermen were impacted," he added.
Comments
themessenger 5 years, 8 months ago
"Why are these Dominicans allowed to work on Bahamian fishing vessels?" Could it be that as in the construction industry where the work force is predominantly Haitian, the Dominicans dominate the fishing industry for the same reasons? In other words they are willing to work twice as hard and twice as long for half as much money.I bought some grouper last weekend from a well known Bahamian seafood wholesaler and low and behold three of the four staff were Haitians, go figure..................... If the Dominicans working on Bahamian registered fishing boats have legal status and will perform where Bahamians won't, whats the problem with that? After all the catch isn't landed and sold in the DR is it?
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