The Government stepping up efforts to protect the country’s marine resources, while preventing illegal fishing in Bahamian waters.
Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources, Michael Pintard says new legislation that will pave the way for that to happen and it will be debated during the next sitting of the house of assembly.
“It is our hope that we will be debating on the 16th, and so we are quite excited. We think this is quite historic we are one of the few countries in this region whose waters, have not been fished out.
“So, we have an obligation to future generations to protect it. We take no joy in young men from other countries who are being incarcerated in The Bahamas for violating our laws, but we have an obligation to protect our waters marine products for future generations” he said.
Minister Pintard says penalties will also be increased for persons poaching in Bahamian waters.
“We are excited about the pending introduction or amendment of the fisheries act that’s going to go a long way in doing a number of things, including stiffening the penalties for persons who are engaged in illegal unregulated and unreported fishing in Bahamian waters.
“For at least 10 years, stakeholders throughout the Bahamas have been engaging in consultations and discussions with respect to this fishery bill and so the time is now” he said.
