The Tribune

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Staff Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

THE ROYAL Bahamas Defence Force yesterday charged that photos of alleged poaching that have been doing the rounds on a social networking website are ‘outdated’.

However, Bahamas Commercial Fishers Alliance president Adrian La-Roda maintains that the photographs depicting fishing vessels and fishermen using ‘illegal’ equipment were taken recently and are different from ‘similar’ photos sent to the RBDF in 2010.

Speaking to The Tribune yesterday, Mr La-Roda said he also had audio recordings to support his claims.

Mr La-Roda said: “I stand by this and the more evidence to come.”

According to Lt Origin Deleveaux of the RBDF, file information embedded in the controversial photographs debunks Mr La-Roda’s claims.

In a statement yesterday, the RBDF said: “The Defence Force does appreciate the concerns of Bahamian fishermen and remains committed to combating the scourge of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing by foreign and local poachers in addition to interdicting other illicit activities occurring in waters throughout the Bahamas.

“While no apprehensions of Dominican poachers have been made in recent times, the Defence Force has routinely responded to sightings and incidences as far as resources would allow.”

The photos were published in two separate internet posts by Mr La-Roda on his Facebook account last week.

Both groups of photos are reported to have been taken in December, according to Mr La-Roda, who alleged the pictures were of Dominican poachers.

In one set of photos, Mr La-Roda identifies three poaching vessels in South Bahama Bank. Mr La-Roda claims the fisherman who took the pictures was shot at.

The post continued: “The BDF was notified but did not respond. A US coastguard ship was within three miles and radioed the Bahamian ship to ask if anyone was hurt so that they could respond. However the Bahamian BDF ship rider was instructed to stand down.”

In the second set, Mr La-Roda said his source was able to get closer to poachers because they were on a pleasure craft and ‘feigned interest’ in buying fish.

The post read: “The poachers boldly bragged about how often they come to fish and how much fish they could supply. The poachers admitted to using spear gun and nets to harvest grouper, all illegal apparatus.”

Mr La-Roda added that he did not include photos of the mothership because there was an investigation underway into its ownership.

Mr Deleveaux said officers realised the photos were outdated after checking the file ‘metadata’ - information embedded in digital photo files that can sometimes provide technical information such as when the picture was created.

Mr Deleveaux said: “The fight is real, it’s out there and [poachers] are out there the majority of the time, but if we’re going to do things, we have to do things in the right way.

“The RBDF does not deny attempted exploitation. However, the photos used on the Facebook page were previously used in 2010 and are currently on file as a result of reported sightings at that time.”

He added: “[Poaching] is a great concern of the fisherman, but I think it is erroneous to use old photos. There is a concern of Dominican poaching but we need to be more realistic if we want to use photos as evidence. We encourage fisherman, if they can capture photos that are timely and current, they can send it to us.”

Mr Deleveaux encouraged fishermen to use the agency’s website to submit evidence directly, adding that the organisation was equipped to verify legitimacy.

According to the RBDF, a number of the larger Dominican fishing vessels or motherships were apprehended and confiscated since the photos were initially received in 2010.

Mr Deleveaux added: “The government, the Royal Bahamas Police Force, the people of the Bahamas are listening. These are our resources, we have to do everything to ensure the legacy and longevity of our resources, and to do that we need to do the right thing. Be patient, by working together as a team we can combat this situation.”