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Viewpoints Editor's POV Commercial fishing venture a net loss for the Bahamas
Viewpoints Editor's POV Commercial fishing venture a net loss for the Bahamas
| Commercial fishing venture a net loss for the Bahamas |
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| By Erik J. Russell, Editor | |
| Thursday, 18 February 2010 10:24 | |
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In a response placed on BahamaIslandsInfo.com this week, Paul Mellor, one of the men involved in the venture, stated that tuna stocks "…are at 96% and being managed by an international body called ICCAT (International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas)." He further asserted that, "...the Atlantic Tuna stocks are in great shape and will continue to be in great shape for years to come because there are international bodies carefully keeping track of there stocks and regulating them when and if necessary". Despite Mr Mellor's declaration, available evidence suggests just the opposite is true, based on ICCAT's own studies. In fact, due to more than 40 years of overfishing, it has been driven to just 3% of its 1960 or pre-longlining abundance -- a decline of 97% -- as shown in ICCAT's figures available on this web page. The devastation brought by longline fishing is very well comparable to that inflicted by net-based commercial fishing. Beyond this fact, greater attention must be given to the wider impact of net fishing; nets do not pick and choose which creature they capture. They capture whichever marine life they encounter, called 'bycatch'.  Sources close to the situation have said that a device designed to shred and dispose of non-tuna catch exists on-board the commercial fishing vessel, a charge which the Mellor partners deny. They also claim that non-tuna catch will be separated and returned to the sea.But whether or not such a device exists and whether or not the Mellors plan to return non-tuna catch to the ocean is moot. Dragging a dolphin, shark or turtle through the ocean tangled in a net for hours on end is at least harmful to their existence, if not deadly. If they survive such an ordeal, hauling them aboard a vessel to be sorted and processed and finally returned to the sea is unlikely to leave them in sufficient condition to be viable for survival. The Mellors are not without a questionable past. In 2002, they were arrested in a $26 million drug bust in South Florida that netted over 300 kilos of cocaine. The brothers were offered a plea deal as cooperating witnesses but their explanations were later called "weak" and "worthless" due to inconsistencies in their facts We see inconsistencies in the explanations and defense of this new commercial fishing venture and believe it to be a bad idea for the Bahamas. Sustainable fishing methods are preferred as they still contribute to the national economy, employ individuals and serve the needs of the broader population, rather than filling nets and the pockets of a select few. Whether you are a fisherman or not, the marine life that surrounds our islands is the lifeblood that our country is dependent upon. To threaten it in this way is incomprehensible and should be avoided at all costs. Read more at these links:
Erik Russell is the editor, co-owner and webmaster of BahamaIslandsInfo.com, Grand Bahama Info and Nassau Info newsletters. He is also the president and founder of Keen i Media Ltd, a media production company that produces TV programmes, documentaries and commercials, provides photography services, web site design and management services and delivers marketing and public relations solutions for their clients. Copyright ©2010 Erik J. Russell Trackback(0)
Comments (7)
  written by Billy Clark, February 18, 2010 written by Trey Rhyne, February 19, 2010
I really didn't believe that this was true, but apparantly I was mistaken. While just about every other country, with a robust Pelagic Sportfishing Fishery works to conserve the resource and promote their precious resource as a SPORT FISHING DESTINATION, which then serves to stimulate the economy though hotel bookings, restaurant bookings, and tourism in general, the Bahamas invites in the very type of activity which further serves to disuade potential tourists. I dont' get it. To what gain is this? They make a few $ issuing a permit? Will that make any difference to their annual budget? Not one single bit.
The Yellowfin Fishery in the Bahamas has done nothing but deteriorate over the last 5 years. So much so, that when people now call us about fishing for Yellowfin in the Bahamas, we tell them "it's hit or miss". The fish have gotten smaller, and fewer and further inbetween. Whether this is due to an overall decrease in the tuna stocks, mirgatory patterns changing, or something else, I do not know. But there are not that many Yellowfin in the Bahamas these days. That much I do know. We caught our FIRST ONE OF THE SEASON YESTERDAY! This is after fishing for 2 months. I am generally supportive of commerical fishermen who are making a living on the water, and playing by the rules. We have many friends who are commercial fishermen, whether they be long liners, Bluefin Fishermen, Swordfishermen, etc. We are in no way opposed to reasonable commercial fishing, that is coordinated side by side with responsible recreational fishing. But where is the coordination in the Bahamas? Where is the promotion of the Sport Fishing Industy that would lead to meaningful tourism, that would allow their LIMITED Resource to be used for the much greater good of the Country. This just makes no sense. Capt. Trey Rhyne Over Under Sportfishing report abuse
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written by LEH, February 19, 2010
This needs to be stopped immediately, before the tuna stocks are wiped out and the tourism dollars stop coming in. Too many Bahamians depend their lives on the sport fisherman coming to our islands.
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written by yellowfin, February 19, 2010
This has to take the cake out of all the recent scams in the Bahamas. These two greedy drug dealers are being allowed to rape the Bahamas once again. I hope they realize this is now a war and their "experiment" is going viral all over the world in the last few days thanks to the internet.
I suggest they sell their new boat now before someone takes it from them and they can no longer get anything for it. report abuse
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written by JENNIFER LEARMONTH, February 19, 2010
WHEN WILL PEOPLE REALISE THAT THERE IS A LIMIT TO RAPING AND PILLAGING IN THIS WORLD.
WHO WANTS TO SEE THE LAST TUNA, THE LAST DOLPHIN, THE LAST TURTLE AND THE LAST OF ANYTHING WILD. WHY CAN'T THE PEOPLE EMPOWERING THE GREED REALISE A QUICK BUCK IS NOT A PROGRESSIVE ATTITUDE TO ADOPT. WHAT ABOUT HERITAGE FOR THE CHILDREN OF THE BAHAMAS. DO SPORTS FISHERMEN HAVE TO TRAVEL FURTHER AND FURTHER SOUTH TO MORE ABUNDANT GROUNDS? ARE WE DOOMED TO BUMBLE BEE IN SPRING WATER? DO WE HAVE TO WATCH THIS HAPPEN? ARE WE GOING TO HAVE BARREN SEAS, LIKE THE RAINFORESTS FORSAKEN FOR GROUND BEEF? WHEN ARE SYMPATHETIC PEOPLE GOING TO BE HEARD? NOT EVERYTHING REVOLVES AROUND THE DOLLAR, AND BY THE WAY THE OLD ADDAGE.....YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU RINGS TRUE AGAIN. DOES EVERY OTHER CREATURE ON THIS PLANET HAVE SUFFER BECAUSE SOME HUMAN BEINGS ARE SO TOTALLY OBLIVIOUS TO THE FUTURE. WAKE UP BAHAMAS BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE report abuse
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written by Craig Cephas, February 19, 2010
One thing when it comes to making rules in the Bahamas,and the ministers that makes them sit in their office in suit and tie an dont even have a clue whats going on.What ever amount of money they get for giving out a permit,am willing to put my life on the line its not even close to the amount the country makes that the Americans brings into the country when they come over just to go fishing.The government need to thing before they make these rules or get imput from people,which we put them there to make the tough an right dession,which they CAN'T seem to make.
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written by Citizen 242, March 13, 2010
Commercial tuna fishing should not be done in Bahamian waters or any waters.
Purse seine fishing is now an unsustainable means for a great demand. The demand is greater than the ocean supply. If the world continues on this trend we will soon see no tuna anywhere. Making noise helps; however you may also have to change your behavior. Do you eat canned tuna? Where do you think it comes from? Chunk tuna is skip jack, and other species to include: yellowfin tuna, big eye and tongol. If commercial Tuna fishing is allowed here some of it would end up at the canneries that supply your breakfast - tuna and grits. In addition, Tuna migrate great distances - Tuna that eventually arrives here are being caught and sent to canneries already. Stop your demand, and we can save our oceans. If you truly support a ban on tuna fishing look at yourself and change your behavior. And continue to make noise! How about your thoughts on the snapper hauling practice used in the Bahamas...How long are we going to be able to sustain that fishery? Not much longer. They are hard to find in areas they use to be abundant. It’s time to make the same amount of noise and energy put into snapper hauling as the people are doing to ensure a ban on commercial tuna fishing. The Demand drives for Supply. Take care of your Earth.... report abuse
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It's about time!
See comment below posted to petition at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it :
How much longer can we sit back and allow the greed of a few, determine the course of the future for all?
In the name of our children and the balance of our remaining resources, PLEASE, LET'S NOT ALLOW TUNA NETTING IN THE BAHAMAS.
This is possibly criminal in nature, but if not illegal, COMPLETELY UNETHICAL BASED ON CURRENT FISHERY RESEARCH OF RESOURCE PATTERNS FROM OTHER REGIONS FOR SIMILAR FISHING TECHNIQUES. IT IS PROVEN TO BE UNSUSTAINABLE.
Further, over fishing by this technique (creating a dramatically increased supply) deteriorates current market pricing. This creates a drop in local prices due to local market saturation (lesser demand from local fisherman) and forces the small fisherman to have to catch MORE in order to make the same income. This effect trickles further into the larger commercial market as it then requires dis-proportionally larger increases of sales (catch) to support the capital investments needed to sustain the "current catch quantities" needed to run the business - a vicious cycle that only ends when the species is decimated... THEREFORE, IT IS NOT ECONOMICALLY SUSTAINABLE EITHER.
The politicians that would give consent to this type of fishing, and it's irreparable impact on ecology and economics, should be held accountable for their actions - let alone the fisherman themselves. Further, a society that allows this to happen shall also be ultimately accountable for their lack of attention as a resulting condition will forever impact an age old, way of life.
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Billy Clark
Marine & Land Industries, LTD.