By YOURI KEMP
Tribune Business Reporter
ykemp@tribunemedia.net
A fisheries advocacy body has backed the Government's plan to ban conch exports by 2022 as well as its plan to ban foreign nationals from working on Bahamian-owned fishing vessels.
Paul Mailis, director of the National Fisheries Association of The Bahamas (NFA), told Tribune Business he had "desired a conch ban for many years” after Michael Pintard, minister for agriculture and fisheries, told Parliament a ban on exports would be introduced within two years.
The Fisheries Bill, which was introduced to Parliament on Wednesday, has held to the Government's position on banning foreigners from working on Bahamian fishing vessels - an issue that has caused a split in the industry
Mr Pintard said: “The introduction of foreign nationals within the sector has been problematic from the onset. While their involvement have proven to be beneficial for some Bahamian commercial vessel owners, it has created division within the sector.
"Further, with the introduction of these individuals, certain harmful fishing practices have evolved, some of which are featured in the decline of certain species, including the Queen Conch, and health (diver) concerns of fishers.
"Another important element, which involves foreign fishers, is the matter of alleged marriages of convenience. This matter may be linked to human trafficking, and forced labour practices.”
The hiring of Dominican fishermen, who are here legally on either work permits or spousal permits as the husbands of Bahamian women, has long divided the fisheries industry. The NFA and their supporters are in favour of a wholesale ban on foreign workers.
However, representatives from the Coalition for Responsible Fishing (CFRF), a group that advocates for the sector’s processors, wholesalers and exporters, have argued that foreign labour is critical to the development of the sector and its viability.
The CFRF had lobbied, unsuccessfully it appears, to stop the Bill from progressing on the grounds that it create significant damage to the sector, costing it at least $8m in lost exports with more than 1,000 livelihoods negatively impacted.
Mr Pintard, meanwhile, said he will be looking to impose a limit on catches per vessel, moving away from the current policy of limiting catch size by individuals. He said this was allowing foreign sports fishermen to stock their coolers with fish and evade the existing regulations, something Mr Mailis agreed with as well.
“The fisheries legislation is a journey that has taken ten years over successive administrations, at least nine major public consultations, numerous stakeholder meetings and countless hours of media interviews, drafting and editing to deliver today this historic, extremely important Bill," he added.
Mr Pintard said that while the fisheries sector represents only 1 percent of GDP, crawfish exports generate an average of $73.1m annually, something he says the current Bill seeks to protect and grow.
He added that the Bill will create a legal foundation for the Department of Fisheries, which will be headed by a director of fisheries. Mr Pintard said: “The Department of Fisheries, now the Department of Marine Resources, has been widely viewed as a law enforcement agency.
"After all, the Department is primarily responsible for the enforcement of the Fisheries Act and its subsidiary legislation, The Fisheries (Jurisdiction and Conservation) Regulations. Yet, in law, there is no such entity as the Department of Fisheries/Marine Resources, or a director of fisheries, and his subordinate staffing.
"In order to give proper recognition of the department, and its officers, as the principal agency and individuals responsible for the enforcement of the Fisheries Act and its regulations, it is imperative that the department and its officers be afforded statute designation. The draft Act/Bill seeks to do this.”
The Fisheries Act also makes provisions for a “statutory requirement for a body called The Fisheries Advisory Council, and a secondary body called The National Fisheries Stakeholders Forum”. These will feature representatives from the Department of Immigration, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and the police force, in addition to members of non-governmental organisations and wider members of the Fisheries Stakeholder Forum.
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