Bahamians face prosecution “to the fullest extent of the law” for harvesting undersize crawfish, Agriculture and Marine resources Minister Lawrence S ‘Larry’ Cartwright stated.
“The practice of harvesting undersize crawfish presents a clear and present danger to the crawfish industry,” he told a press conference on Monday.
“If left unchecked, this practice will lead to the eventual depletion of the stock.”
Also, the position of The Bahamas as a leading exporter of crawfish could be “severely damaged,” he said.
“Foreign buyers increasingly accept products only from well-managed and sustainable fisheries,” Mr Cartwright said. “Consequently The Bahamas as a whole stands to lose if the harvesting of undersize crawfish continues.”
Also present at the press conference were director of marine resources Michael Braynen, deputy director Edison Deleveaux, permanent secretary Cresswell Sturrup, and administrative officer Jacqueline Fox.
Defence Force and Department of Marine Resources in Grand Bahama and Abaco have been seizing a number of undersize crawfish, said Mr Cartwright.
Those found in possession of them were arrested and charged before the courts.
Fisheries regulations state that no one shall take, have in their possession, or sell any undersize crawfish.
Persons in charge of vessels engaged in crawfishing shall ensure that they carry measuring gauges capable of determining the legal size, said the Minister.
The warning also went out to buyers.
“They too contribute to the non-sustainability of the resource by providing a market for undersize crawfish,” the Minister said.
Enforcement officers are monitoring mail boats for the landing of undersize crawfish.
The scientific basis for the minimum size limit is to ensure at least one spawning season for crawfish before they are of legal size, Mr Cartwright explained.
“(The authorities) will continue to monitor the activities of the Bahamian fishing industry and will take measures as necessary in accordance to the Fisheries Regulations and Act of the Bahamas,” the Minister warned.
He said the crawfish industry remains “an essential component” of the Bahamian economy.”
It generates an estimated $60 million to $70 million annually and employs approximately 9,000 Bahamians full-time.
“It is noteworthy that some of the country’s highest per capita incomes are to be found in Family Island fishing communities,” said Mr Cartwright.
Also there is a direct linkage between the tourism industry and crawfish industries, he noted.
By Gladstone Thurston
Bahamas Information Services
