By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
NEARLY $100,000 in fines were collected from the captain and crew of a Dominican vessel which was arrested for illegally fishing in Bahamian waters.
In December, 17 Dominicans were caught but 33 others evaded capture after the group of 50 were spotted poaching near Cay Lobos just off the Great Bahama Bank.
But according to Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) officials in a press statement yesterday, six charges were brought against the captain and crew of the Dominican fishing vessel for poaching 10,750 lbs of seafood. The captain was fined $50,000 and each crew member $1,000.
Two crew members, found to be repeat offenders, were fined an additional $5,000. Altogether, the courts collected from the group a total of $96,000.
Among the goods confiscated from the group’s 70ft boat called the “Rubi 1” were 4,374 lbs of legal sized whole crawfish and 1,337 lbs of under-sized crawfish.
Two pounds of egg bearing crawfish were confiscated. RBDF officers also found 687 lbs of legal sized Nassau Grouper and 233 lbs of the under sized fish. Mixed fish weighed 4,125 lbs.
The statement said: “Late in December of last year the Defence Force successfully apprehended a 70ft Dominican fishing vessel in the area of Diamond Point 19.1 nautical miles south east of Cay Lobos just off the Great Bahama Bank.
“‘RUBI 1’ and her cargo was detained and escorted into Coral Harbour Base and turned over to officers from the Fisheries Department and the Ministry of Finance for further processing. Subsequently, a large quantity of fisheries products were removed and transported to Geneva Brass Seafood, for weighing and storage.”
The Ministry of Finance has yet to make public the market value of the confiscated seafood.
Executive Director of the Bahamas National Trust (BNT) Eric Carey said the fines are proof that the government is serious about protecting the resources of the Bahamas.
“$100,000 is not an insignificant fine,” Mr Carey said, “it sends a very clear message and ensured that their trip was not a very profitable one. I believe the fines levied against the group of Dominicans is sufficient deterrent.”
Mr Carey urged Bahamians and foreigners alike to heed fishing laws as unregulated fishing is extremely detrimental to various species in the ocean.
Comments
B_I_D___ 10 years, 10 months ago
Did they keep the boat? I would not return the vessel...and still collect the fines!!
jackflash 10 years, 10 months ago
Sell the boat and put the money in the Treasury!
briwest1773 10 years, 10 months ago
So what happens to the all that seafood!!
TheMadHatter 10 years, 10 months ago
I would like to thank the Tribune for following up on this story till the end.
TheMadHatter
Hogfish 10 years, 10 months ago
What about the Boat!!? $50k is a joke. they need to confiscate the boat (and dinghys!) and sell them! then grant the RBDF crew that was involved a bounty reward. That would offer an incentive to do the right thing instead of sometimes turning a blind eye.
SP 10 years, 10 months ago
If we really want to appear serious about sending a clear message confiscate the boats and throw these poachers in Fox Hill prison for 1 year on top of the $100,000 fine.
Sell the boats to Bahamian fisherman.
So far the courts are still pussyfooting around with the Dominicans so they continue to destroy our fishery resources.
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