The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Commercial Fishers Alliance (BCFA) president yesterday said that while he was not ready to label the 2017-2018 crawfish season a 'bust', it had been "rough".

Adrian LaRoda told Tribune Business that with two weeks left in the season, he was still awaiting more data to determine how Bahamian fishermen fared this crawfish season. "It's honestly still too early to say how the season would have gone because we are still collecting that data right now. We still wait until the end of the month before the season closes," he said. "I'm not ready to call the season a bust. I need to see more data. I can tell you, though, this season has been rough."

Mr LaRoda said Hurricane Irma had dealt a significant blow to Bahamian fishermen this crawfish season, and added: "That was a big blow to a lot of fishermen and some of them just shut it down for the season."

Last October, the Minnis administration unveiled an exigency order to assist the sector and farmers following Hurricane Irma. The list of approved duty-free goods includes materials used for the construction of fishing traps and condos. "We're going to see what the final data tells us but I don't think this was a very good season, and I doubt that the yield would be in line with last year, all things considered," said Mr LaRoda.