FREEPORT – With controversy still swirling over the presence of 15 Korean fishing boats in Andros and the ‘mother vessel’ moored in Freeport Harbour, a Japanese fishing boat sparked a wave of concern among onlookers when it docked at the harbour and began unloading its large cargo of fish on Tuesday.
The concern, however, dissipated after it was learnt that there was no connection between the Japanse vessel and the Korean boats, reportedly owned by Netsiwill Holdings Bahamas Ltd, that the government said more than two months ago would not be permitted to fish in The Bahamas and eventually would be asked to leave the country.
According to Senior Fisheries Officer Gilford Lloyd, there have been a number of Japanese boats that have utilised the Container Port as a transshipment point for their goods to be shipped back to Japan, mainly tunas that were caught in various places in the world.
Mr. Lloyd said that he has conducted inspections in Grand Bahama of Japanese vessels that met the necessary requirements and standards of the Fisheries Department. Responding to the concerns by local fishermen of such vessels coming to the harbour, Mr. Lloyd clearly stated that only if fishes are caught in Bahamian waters is the fishing vessel in breach of the country’s law. He noted that tunas are known as ‘migratory species,’ meaning that they migrate from one country to another and do not belong to any one country.
Therefore, it is not something that the Government is able to prohibit from being shipped from Grand Bahama. “This is good for Grand Bahama, because the fishing boat has to pay for the use of the Container Port,” Mr. Lloyd said.
Transshipment service for the Japanese vessel, Shotoku Maru No. 78, is being provided by United Shipping, a local company. United Shipping’s Marine Operator Mike Rhodes said most of the Japanese boats that come to the Freeport harbour usually go to Panama to have their goods transshipped back to Japan, but because of the ease of the island’s Container Port to ship containers from here, they have employed the services of the Container Port.
He said the operation of the Japanese boat obtaining United Shipping services to transport their goods has nothing to do with 15 Korean boats in Andros or the Korean ‘mother vessel’ docked on the other side of the harbour.
The tuna that was brought here by the Japanese boat was not for local consumption, nor were they caught in local waters.
Mr. Rhodes noted that because the Japanese boat are using the services of United Shipping, two local crane companies and labour forces have also profited.
“Korea and Japan are countries that are geographically situated very close to each other, so one can easily see how some people would think about the situation in Andros,” Mr. Rhodes said.
“They might think that this vessel has something to that with that, but this vessel has nothing to do with that whatsoever.” A statement has been issued by the Government, noting that the Korean fishing vessels were not permitted to fish in Bahamian waters and will be requested to leave The Bahamas.
The Department of Fisheries had issued a statement prohibiting fishing in the waters surrounding High Cay, off the coast of Andros, in December 2003 to March 2004.
By Lisa King, The Nassau Guardian
