The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

Fishermen have described  the 2016-2017 crawfish season as “one of the best in years”, attributing this partly to an increased Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) presence that has deterred foreign poachers.

Keith Carroll, the Bahamas Commercial Fishers Alliance’s (BCFA) vice-president, told Tribune Business that the season, which ended March 31, had gone extremely well.

“It was a good season. This was one of the best seasons in the last several years in my opinion; the best one in a good many years,” said Mr Carroll, the owner of two fishing vessels.

“We as fishermen are very thankful to the acting Commodore, Tellis Bethel, and the Defense Force, and hope they keep it up.”

Mr Caroll applauded the Defence Force for its efforts to help curb poaching. The BCFA has long voiced concerns over poaching by foreign fishermen, primarily Dominicans, and particularly during the closed period.

Mr Carroll said, however, that despite such success, other issues affecting the industry persist. “We have problems with Dominicans coming here and getting married for convenience,” he said.

“The Defense Force is helping to keep the Dominicans off the bank. They;re doing a great job, but what they are doing now is coming in and marrying for convenience and getting spousal permits to go out on Bahamian boats. They are being stopped on one end but they are using another tactic and it’s terrible.”.