As Mr Abner Pinder, who knows as much about the Bahamian fishing industry as any man alive, pointed out in his letter [to The Tribune newspaper] on July 24: “The real answer to the fisheries problem is to enforce the laws, stop poaching, stop off season fishing and stop undersized fishing. These rules and laws, however, must apply to all, not just to a few select people.”
In other words, if the whole Bahamian population stands up for the law and proudly bears the responsibilities of a truly independent, free society, there will be more than enough resources available for the government to beat off the foreign poachers. If you want to know who can save this vital fishing industry, look in your mirror. The responsibility lies just as much with every member of the general public as with the fishermen.
Minister Miller has taken a long-overdue step by curtailing the 2007 crawfish season. He is committed to protect the Nassau grouper and the reefs as well, and I congratulate and thank him.
Mr Pinder closes his letter by saying he is more than happy to help in any way possible to ensure that our grandchildren and their grandchildren have a better way of life. I have a suggestion for him and an offer from BREEF to put real money in his way to help bring it about. One of last year’s (2005) winners of the famous and valuable $500,000 MacArthur “Genius” Awards was Ted Ames. His family have fished lobster in Maine for over years. As well as being a fisherman, he is a research scientist.
Let us try and get him and Mr Pinder together and invite him to come here to speak on ZNS radio and TV and to have town meetings with Mr. Pinder in Nassau, Andros, Abaco, Long Island and of course Spanish Wells so that these two gentlemen can share their wisdom and answer our concerns. “
By: SIR NICHOLAS NUTTALL Chairman, Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF)
Nassau
July 25 2006
