The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

DRAFT regulations for the flats fishing industry have been completed and are now with the Attorney General’s Office for “fine tuning”, a Cabinet minister said yesterday.

Clay Sweeting, minister of agriculture, marine resources and Family Island affairs, in his mid-year Budget presentation said the regulations had undergone a long consultation process dating back to 2017.

The draft Flats Fishing Regulations call for the creation of a 12 member committee, comprised of government representatives and industry stakeholders, to oversee and advance the sector. “I’m happy to report that this 12-member committee has finally been established,” Mr Sweeting said.

“As we place a considerable focus on supporting the flats fishing industry, BAMSI (the Bahamas Agricultural and Marine Sciences Institute) is currently providing practical training for 12 students. There are four females in this programme and the students are all around a young age of 20.

“Fishers were able to apply online for a number of fishery services. I’m happy to advise that, as of February this year, eight additional services have been added to the portal. Again, we encourage commercial fishermen, bone fishers, entrepreneurs, etc, to take advantage of the services, which will save time and money having to travel to New Providence for them.”

Mr Sweeting said food security remained a priority for the Davis administration, which is developing a “strategic plan” for The Bahamas to achieve this. “As I’ve said repeatedly, for this administration, food security is not a buzzword or a catchphrase. We are serious about food security. We are taking practical steps to achieve this goal,” he added.

“By now you have all heard about this egg-citing news that we are reviving the poultry sector. On February 27, the Prime Minister broke ground on the Golden Yolk egg project here in New Providence. This project will engage farmers, provide significant employment and empowerment through establishing six growhouses… in Nassau and, in phase two of this project, an additional 38 throughout 12 islands including Eleuthera, Andros, Abaco and Grand Bahama.

“The Golden Yolk project is anticipated to increase our egg production from 750,000 eggs per year to 28m eggs per year. This number is estimated to completely reduce the need to import eggs into our country, and this directly reduces our imports by 1 percent. This industry will not be controlled by the Government and the farmers will drive this sector. This project is 100 percent Bahamian from start to end.”