The Department of Fisheries announced yesterday that the catching, processing, and sale of fresh Nassau grouper will be prohibited next month and from December 16, 2004, to February 16, 2005, bringing an end to years of lobbying by environmental groups for the establishment of a closed season for catching the popular fish.
And the department also advised that waters surrounding High Cay, off Andros, will be designated a “protected area” from December 18 to March 31, 2004.
During this period all forms of fishing will be prohibited in this area around High Cay.
Deputy director Eddison Deleveaux told The Tribune yesterday that while these closures will only apply for two years the department hopes to institute a closed season for the years ahead.
Also yesterday, members of The Environmental Partnership, a body comprising 16 environmental groups, applauded the closure and said they viewed it as a significant advancement for marine conservation in the Bahamas.
The Environmental Partnership was established by the Bahamas National Trust in 2002 to bring together entities in the public and private sectors concerned and/or mandated with conservation of natural resources and biodiversity.
“This closure is an official recognition by the government that our Bahamian Nassau grouper stocks need more protective measures to supplement current ones if they are to remain healthy for future generations. Having a closed season during the grouper spawning period (November-February) is the best way to accomplish this,” the organisation said.
Among organisations signing the joint statement were:. Adventure Learning Centre, Nassau;. Andros Conservancy and Trust (ANCAT), Fresh Creek, Andros;. Ardastra Gardens, Zoo and Conservation Centre, Nassau;. Bahamas Marine Mammal Survey, Sandy Point, Abaco;. Bahamas National Trust, Nassau;. Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation, Nassau;. EARTHCARE, Freeport, Grand Bahama;. reEarth, Nassau;. Save Our Sea Turtles, Nassau;. The Island School, Cape Eleuthera, Eleuthera and;. The Nature Conservancy, Nassau.
“We want to especially thank the Department of Fisheries and Dr Livingston Marshall, scientific adviser to the prime minister, for their efforts to make this Nassau grouper closed season possible. We strongly encourage the general public to be supportive of the government in this measure,” said the Environmental Partnership.
At the PLP’s 48th annual convention, Agriculture, Fisheries and Local Government minister V Alfred Gray announced that there will be a Nassau grouper closed season during January, 2004, and January and February, 2005. This is an announcement many conservation groups have been wanting for quite some time.
The Environmental Partnership asked the public to refrain from catching Nassau grouper and refuse to buy fresh Nassau grouper during the closed season.
“We realise that not having Nassau grouper for a short period of time may be undesirable to many persons. However, it is a choice of not having Nassau grouper temporarily or eventually not having any Nassau grouper at all.
“We think the first choice is unequivocally the better one. We applaud the government for their efforts to protect Bahamian fisheries stock and ultimately our way of life,” it said.
The department said the designated “protected area” around High Cay is bounded in the north by latitude 24ﾺ40’N, in the south by latitude 24ﾺ37.8’N, in the east by longitude 77ﾺ 40.8’W and in the west by longitude 77ﾺ 44’W and encompassing an area of about seven square miles.
By Rupert Missick, The Tribune
