The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

STRONGER regulations to govern the fisheries sector is a key industry priority, Bahamas Commercial Fishers Alliance (BCFA) chief, Adrian LaRoda, said yesterday, adding that the new government would be held accountable for its promises to support the industry.

Mr LaRoda told Tribune Business: "With elections being over and the new government in place, we are really going to be holding them to their promises that were made in their manifesto and leading up to the election.

"They have promised to provide more support to the Bahamas Department of Fisheries and other things in terms of general improvements to the industry. It's not going to be business as usual any more as fishermen. I'm confident that they will be prepared to work with us to help the third pillar of the economy."

Mr LaRoda added: "At the moment, for us one of the biggest issues is regulations, because we have to meet certain international requirements. It's going to take a strong effort from the Government to meet those requirements because if we don't, the whole industry is going to suffer. That can only come through some form of regulation and licensing - some sort of licensing programme for the fishermen."

Mr LaRoda said this would help to curb foreign labourers being employed on Bahamian vessels. Mr LaRoda said: "What licensing would do is allow our international partners to be able to track every fisheries shipment that is exported from the Bahamas.

"It will also curb some of the incidents of foreign labour being employed to work on domestic fishing vessels. A licensee will be required to have not just the signature but the photograph of the bearer, whereas at the moment some licenses and permits don't have that."