Grouper ban extended

[Blacktip shark]

Grouper ban extended

By JASMIN BONAMY, Guardian Staff Repoirter

Anchor="jasmin@nasguard.com"

Agriculture and Marine Resource officials revealed yesterday that the 2006/2007 Nassau Grouper ban will be extended by one month in a bid to replenish the country's grouper stock.

Since its inception the Nassau grouper ban has generally lasted only two months, but this year officials have lengthened the period to three and in some areas four months.

According to Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources, Leslie Miller, his department saw it necessary to extend this year's ban because of the "declining" grouper stocks in the country.

"In an effort to limit fishing pressure on the Nassau grouper, the taking, the landing, the possessing, the selling or offering for sale, or the purchasing of the Nassau grouper will be prohibited throughout The Bahamas during the period of 1 December 2006 through 28 February 2007," he said.

Minister Miller added that in the High Cay, Andros area, where large concentrations of Nassau grouper are known to spawn, the ban will be extended by two months.

"With respect to the High Cay area of Central Andros, fishing for the Nassau grouper will be prohibited during the period of November 1, 2006 through February 28, 2007, a period of four months," Minister Miller explained.

"If The Bahamas is to continue to have sustainable fishery for the Nassau grouper, it is imperative that steps continue to be taken to control fishing efforts during the period when the species is most vulnerable," he said.

Minister Miller added that his Ministry will be enforcing new strategies this year to ensure the ban is being followed.

"In an effort to ensure that the Nassau Grouper is not being harvested or sold during the proposed closed season, Fisheries regulations will be amended to make it mandatory that if it is harvested it must be landed with head, tail and skin intact," he explained. "This would enable fisheries inspectors to be able to identify the grouper species that is being landed."

But while Gilford Lloyd, chief enforcement officer at the Fisheries Department admitted that enforcing the ban will be a challenge, he insisted that it will take a multi-agency effort by local authorities.

"In terms of our strategy for the enforcement of the Nassau grouper ban, it has always been a challenge to stop or prevent local fishers from catching the species," said Mr Lloyd.

Meanwhile, according to agriculture and fisheries experts, the size of the Nassau grouper stock is unknown in The Bahamas because there is no scientific data outlining the amount of Nassau grouper in our waters. Still, experts insist it is on the decline.

But already in surrounding areas like Bermuda, the Dominican Republic, Cuba and Florida authorities say the Nassau grouper is known to be commercially extinct.

"The situation with the Nassau grouper tells all of us in The Bahamas that unless we are prepared to protect and enhance this species of fish in our waters we will follow the format of those other countries," said Minister Miller.

"Bahamians have this fixation in their head that once we would have seen an entity or species in The Bahamas, it's going to be there forever," he added. "But nothing could be further from the truth."

 

[archman]

But while Gilford Lloyd, chief enforcement officer at the Fisheries Department admitted that enforcing the ban will be a challenge, he insisted that it will take a multi-agency effort by local authorities.

This sure is the truth. I've personally never seen a fisheries inspector in the Bahamas. Oh well, at least a paper tiger is better than no tiger.

 

[marku]

Marine protected areas (MPA's) seem to work quite well here in the Philippines, maybe the Bahamas should give them a try. The MPA's have to be no-take zones all year round though. Don't Nassau groupers form spawning congregations? Start by protecting the congregation areas...

 

[archman]

Unfortunately, grouper comprises part of the basic diet in the commonwealth, and is also one of the top "social party foods", as well as being an export item.

 

[marku]

If Nassau grouper is a comercially valuable species, then maybe somebody should start culturing them. From hatchery all the way to grow-out; all you need is an investor.

 

[archman]

It's currently much easier to overfish them to commercial extinction, then it is to fool around with "them crazy newfangled ideas".

 

[Blacktip shark]

I think that one of the way how to also protect Nassau Grouper is maximal attention to preservation of the habitat where they live as a juvenile - Mangroves.
I express my opinion of that all in this article: http://freeport.nassauguardian.net/editorial/287461741164048.php

 

[Oceana Diver]

Marine protected areas (MPA's) seem to work quite well here in the Philippines, maybe the Bahamas should give them a try. The MPA's have to be no-take zones all year round though. Don't Nassau groupers form spawning congregations? Start by protecting the congregation areas...

Actually, the Bahamas are already working on creating a network of MPAs throughout the country, in addition to the existing parks (ie, the Exumas Land and Sea Park). They've set a lofty goal to put ~20% of their marine territory under protection. The grouper ban is timed to protect the spawning aggregations, and the placement of future MPAs will take aggregation sites into account. However, as has been noted, enforcement will be crucial, as well as buy-in from affected stakeholders, especially fishermen.

On another note, I remember when the grouper ban was an experiment a few years ago, and the likelihood of it being repeated the following year was questionable. It's good to see that the ban is still in place.

 

[REII]

Oceana;

Do you have any info on the proposed changes in Lobstering in the Bahamas. The only thing I had heard was that they were considering delaying the season opening to non-Bahamians. I have not been able to find any further discussion on this though.

TOM

 

[Oceana Diver]

Hi Tom,

i've asked around, but so far, there hasn't been much word on changes to lobstering. The one thing I did find was an article talking about how Bahamian fishermen asked for a two month extension to the current closure. If I hear anything else, I'll let you know.