The Tribune

The Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF) has begun the official distribution of the pocket brochures, "A Quick Guide to Fisheries Regulations of The Bahamas".

The brochure was made possible with the assistance of Family Island Research and Education, the Department of Marine Resources and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force. The brochure is developed by BREEF to provide fishermen with a handy pocket reference to Protected Species Regulations, Approved Fishing Methods and Fishing Permit Requirements.

Accepting the brochures on behalf of the Department of Marine Resources, Acting Director of Fisheries, Mr Edison Deleveaux said, "The Department of Marine Resources is appreciative of the assistance provided by the NGO community, and in particular those provided by the Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF). BREEF's recent production of the brochure, "A Quick Guide to the Fisheries Regulations of The Bahamas", assists greatly in the provision of information to stakeholders with the aim of educating persons to fish responsibly. The ultimate goal is food security. I extend my thanks to BREEF for this initiative."​

In his remarks at the Coral Harbour Royal Bahamas Defence Force Base, Commodore Tellis Bethel said, "The Royal Bahamas Defence Force congratulates BREEF for its publication of the Quick Guide to Fisheries Regulations of The Bahamas Brochure. This booklet provides a practical tool for understanding Bahamian fisheries laws, and therefore makes the Defence Force's role in safeguarding our fisheries resources a much easier one. Knowledge of these laws is also important for our growing population, as well as visitors to our shores. We in the Defence Force will certainly make use of this booklet and will encourage others to do the same."​

Casuarina McKinney-Lambert, BREEF's Executive Director stated, "A Quick Guide to Fisheries Regulations of The Bahamas is first and foremost an educational tool designed to promote responsible and sustainable harvesting of our fishery resources. It is an integral part of BREEF's ongoing efforts to provide as many fishers as possible with access to some very important Bahamian Fisheries Regulations. Additionally, fishers can also obtain similar information by downloading the Fish Rules App which BREEF helped to develop." ​

BREEF is confident that "A Quick Guide to Fisheries Regulations of The Bahamas" pocket brochure will continue to be a valuable reference tool for promoting responsible fishing practices and adherence to fisheries regulations by Bahamian and visiting fishers.​

According to BREEF's Outreach and Education Officer, Allison Ballester-Longley, "BREEF is very grateful to Mr Stevie Connett of Family Island Research and Education and Bahamas Sea Turtle Research for facilitating the production of the new brochures. And, we would like to remind everyone that responsible fishers, know and obey fisheries regulations, respect closed seasons, respect the rules of Marine Protected Areas and purchases only legally and sustainably harvested seafood."​

BREEF is a non-governmental nonprofit Bahamian foundation concerned with educating our people about the value of and need for conserving our marine environment. BREEF promotes the conservation of the Bahamian marine environment that sustains our way of life.