At the Progressive Liberal Party’s 48th annual convention the minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Local Government, V. Alfred Gray, announced that there will be a Nassau grouper closed season during January 2004 and January and February 2005. We view the closure of the Nassau grouper fishery as a significant advancement for marine conservation in our country. 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 (Nov. – Feb.) is the best way to accomplish this.
We the undersigned would like to publicly thank and support the Government for this insightful and proactive move. We want to especially thank the Department of Fisheries and Dr Livingston Marshall, scientific advisor 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. Refrain from catching Nassau grouper and refuse to buy fresh Nassau grouper during the closed season. We realize 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 its efforts to protect Bahamian fisheries stock and ultimately our way of life.
Signed: Adventure Learning Centre, Nassau; Andros Conservancy and Trust (ANCAT), Fresh Creek, Andros; Ardastra Gardens, Zoo and Conservation Centre, Nassau; Bahamas Caves Research Foundation, Small Hope Bay, Andros; Bahamas Marine Mammal Survey, Sandy Point, Abaco; Bahamas Outdoors Limited, Nassau;
Bahamas National Trust, Nassau; Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation, Nassau; Bahamas Sports Fishing and Conservation Association, Nassau; EARTHCARE, Freeport, Grand Bahama; Exuma Foundation, Georgetown, Exuma; Friends of the Environment, Marsh Habour, Abaco; reEarth, Nassau; Save Our Sea Turtles, Nassau; The Island School, Cape Eleuthera, Eleuthera;
The Nature Conservancy, Nassau.
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. The Partnership aims to plan ways and means for various entities to cooperate with each other for the advancement of environmental protection in The Bahamas.
Shenique Albury
The Environmental Partnership
