The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

Bahamian fishermen were yesterday urged to respect the Nassau Grouper’s closed season and focus on other species so that fisheries stocks can replenish.

Paul Mailis, a National Fisheries Association director, told Tribune Business of the closed season, which lasts from today until February 28, that fishermen needed to focus on other fish such as snapper, lobster and tuna.

“I just want to make sure that, for this grouper system, if fishermen have pots out to sea, make sure you pick them up and don’t leave them out during the breeding season so they don’t kill groupers inadvertently,” he said.

“Just make sure you respect the grouper season and find alternatives. This is red snapper season. The winter time is red snapper time, and it is very profitable for fishermen. There is lobster and there are various jack species. There is mahi-mahi and there is tuna.

“So there are lots of different fish out there, and there are other species of grouper. We have the black grouper, we have the red grouper, we have the yellowfin grouper. So there are other species of grouper that fishermen can catch instead of the Nassau Grouper.”

Nassau Groupers this year averaged between $15 to $20 per pound based on how fishermen decided to market their catch. “It really depends on the fisherman’s quality and his desired market, and if he wants to sell to private customers or high end restaurants,” Mr Mailis said.

“I noticed that where the groupers normally would be prepared to breed this moon, this December moon that is coming, I noticed that there was still a considerable amount of large Nassau Groupers that didn’t have any spawn, which means there will be breeding in the next moon.

“But that’s natural. Sometimes it fluctuates. Sometimes they breed earlier in the moon, sometimes they breed in the later moons, you know. That’s just nature.”

Despite the change in breeding schedules, Mr Mailis reassured that it was not abnormal to see such patterns with groupers as they could simply be moving on to other spots in the Atlantic.

He added: “I just think that moving forward there needs to be good protection of the grouper schools this breeding season. So that, you know, our sacrifices in keeping the grouper season in place are not wasted, because of poaching - and that means local poaching and foreign poaching.

“We need to make sure we have proper policing of the major grouper school areas, High Cay down south. Some of the famous and big group of schools, they need to be properly monitored and properly policed, so that people aren’t fishing the grouper school and they will have a successful spawn.”

Mr Mailis acknowledged that one vessel was caught poaching this year, and added: “We’re still having problems. There are still fishermen that compressor dive the grouper school. They still pot the grouper school. It’s just a matter of getting more people to accept the grouper school is protected, and that it is protected for a good reason.”