The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

DESPITE a “marked increase” in incidents of poaching in the Bahamas this year, local fishermen remain “optimistic” that the 2014-15 crawfish season will bring a good yield.

“We are certainly optimistic,” said Adrian Laroda, head of the Bahamas Commercial Fishers Alliance, yesterday. “It’s a bit to early to tell how the season will play out. Most boats are not back in yet. From indications we have some people are finding product, others are not. There are mixed responses coming in but in a week or so we will certainly be in a better position to say.”

“You always have to have that level of optimism even though sometimes your hopes can be dampened by the volume of product you might get. You still have to go out there with the hope that you will have a good trip. We have to be optimistic because this is our lifeblood.”

Mr Laroda added: “This year we have seen a marked increase in the incidences of poaching. It’s surprising to all of us. It’s almost like billboards are being posted to tell the poachers where to come. We have seen at least 28 per cent more poaching vessels than we did in the past couple of years.”

The Bahamas crawfish season opened on August 1 and ends on March 31.

The Department of Marine Resources warned last week that persons found in violation or breach of the Fisheries Act will face penalties and prosecution in the courts. In an official statement fishermen and members of the public were reminded that it is against the law to capture undersised crawfish, as well as egg-bearing or spawning crawfish.

The minimum size limit for whole crawfish is three and a quarter inches carapace length. The minimum legal size limit on the crawfish tail is five and half inches length.

“All fishers capturing crawfish are required to have a measuring gauge to ensure that they are able to confirm full compliance with the legal size requirements,” the Department said in a statement last week.

Persons interested in using an air compressor to harvest marine resources must first obtain a permit from the Department of Marine Resources. Applicants must provide proof of Bahamian citizenship, such as a Bahamian passport, along with proof that they have received adequate training in safely diving while using compressed air.