The Tribune

BY ANNELIA NIXON

TRIBUNE Business Reporter

anixon@tribunemedia.net

CRAWFISH catches are falling sharply in some of The Bahamas’ key fishing grounds, with operators reporting production as much as two-thirds below previous years amid growing concerns over increased illegal off-season harvesting and other pressures.

Paul Maillis, the National Fisheries Association’s (NFA) secretary, said large dive boats have been reporting disappointing numbers so far this season, which he believes is partly due to the growing number of large-scale operators targeting the country’s lobster grounds.

“So far, the large dive boats (non-condo setting), report disappointing numbers,” Mr Maillis said. “In my personal opinion, the number of large dive operators (50-foot plus vessels with six or more dive dinghies) has increased in number over the past five to 10 years.”

Mr Maillis said the increased fishing effort has put significant pressure on northern lobster grounds, with operators increasingly moving into the southern Bahamas during August. “Many of the lobster grounds up north have been hit hard,” he added. “Thus many of these operations target the southern Bahamas in August.”

Mr Maillis said areas from Cay Lobos through the Cochinos and the Ragged Island chain can have as many as 15 large operations working at the same time. He also raised concerns that some operators are harvesting lobster before the official start of the season, giving them an advantage over fishermen who comply with the closed season.

“On top of that, some of these operations are getting a head start on the lobster season in July, leaving many law abiding operations behind in the wake,” Mr Maillis said. He added that the trend has become increasingly concerning in recent years, particularly as fishing pressure grows on already heavily worked grounds.

“Some operations are reporting one-third to two-thirds less lobster at this point in time compared to other years,” Mr Maillis said.

His concerns are echoed by fishermen reporting inconsistent catches across the fishing grounds. Emile Knowles, a Long Island fisherman operating between South Andros and the Ragged Island chain, said some areas have been slow while others are producing well.

“I don’t know if the crawfish ain’t migrated yet for the summer. They normally have,” Mr Knowles said. “But some areas were kind of slow. Then some areas is kind of good. But on a large scale, some of the areas that have a lot of crawfish didn’t have any because it looked just like how it was in March. So it’s probably just a slow season. Not every year be the same.”

Mr Knowles said poaching could be contributing to weaker production in some areas, although he believes natural seasonal conditions are also a factor.

Keith Carroll, the National Fisheries Association president, said it is still too early to assess the season because some trap fishermen have not yet reached their strongest period.

“I know some of the boats came in and they did pretty good,” Mr Carroll said. “But my boats, we were late putting out our traps, so we haven’t really started yet. But we were trappers, so we don’t really start catching until the cold fronts start coming. But I think the divers doing pretty good.”

Mr Carroll said reports from boats returning to port have generally been encouraging despite some areas being slower.

“That’s how it is sometimes,” Mr Carroll said. “Some areas you go in there’s nothing. Then some you go, you get some. But from what I’m hearing from the boats coming in, it sounds like they’re doing pretty good.”

Lance Pinder, a Spanish Wells fisherman, said his overall catch has been good, but prices are already below last season. “It’s going good,” Mr Pinder said. “The price is down somewhat. The price is down from last season. It’s down over $1 for sure. It could have been better.”

He alleged that fishermen are operating during the closed season, including local boats, and said there was evidence of Dominican fishermen operating along the southern edge of the Bahamas. Mr Pinder called for greater enforcement around islands and other areas where illegal fishing can occur, particularly near Andros.

“You need more patrolling around the islands when you get close to land,” Mr Pinder said. “Like say, for example, close to Andros. Close to any land area, all the traps, the crawfishing traps, even the shoals and all that has done work.”

Mr Maillis similarly criticised the level of enforcement during the period immediately before the season opens. “There is little to no major patrolling of critical commercial lobster areas during the late weeks of July to catch some of these perpetrators,” he said.

He also questioned whether the penalties for illegal lobster possession are strong enough to deter repeat offences, pointing to reports that a recently apprehended vessel was only fined.

“In my opinion, an operator should lose their commercial fishing licence for that type of offense,” Mr. Maillis said. “You are stealing from your countrymen and your future.”

Mr Maillis also warned that the problem extends beyond crawfish, pointing to illegal harvesting of Nassau grouper during its winter closed season.

“This type of illegal, offseason fishing can also be said of the Nassau Grouper, where the key southern breeding schools are being systemically poached during the winter closed season,” Mr. Maillis said. “This is robbing the fishing grounds of the chance to recover and the large fish to breed. It’s unacceptable and unsustainable.”

Mr Maillis called for increased government financing and co-ordination of Royal Bahamas Defence Force patrols in key fishing areas.

“We just need more from our government in financing and co-ordinating the presence of the RBDF at areas like Cay Verde during the peak winter months of December, January and February,” Mr Maillis said.

Mr. Pinder also stressed that enforcement is critical because law-abiding fishermen already make a significant financial sacrifice by observing the closed season.

“I have a lot of money invested in fishing, but my fishing boat sits to the dock for four solid months,” Mr Pinder said. “From April 1 until July 30 she doesn’t move. That’s four months I don’t do nothing. We have very, very good laws in place, and the laws just need to be followed.”

Meanwhile, the early season price remains another concern for fishermen. Mr Knowles said reduced production should support stronger prices. “With less production, the price should be higher,” he added. “At least they can’t say the market saturated with lobster.”