MORE than 80 Dominican fishermen were apprehended by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force after they were caught fishing in Bahamian waters. They were brought before the Chief Magistrate and Deputy Chief Magistrate for sentencing. Photo: Shawn Hanna/Tribune Staff
By FARRAH JOHNSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
THE captain and crew of two Dominican vessels caught poaching in Bahamian waters late last week were charged in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
Over 80 Dominican poachers appeared before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt and Deputy Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes after members of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force caught them fishing in Bahamian waters on September 17.
According to the RBDF, the Dominican fishermen were apprehended in the southwestern Bahamas, off Diamond Point, Great Bahama Bank last Thursday. Acting on information received from the US Coast Guard, RBDF patrol craft HMBS Lignum Vitae, under the command of Lieutenant James Cox, intercepted “El Ship” and “Angel Gabriel”, before boarding and searching them. The Dominican fishermen were then cautioned, arrested and taken into custody after they were found with a number of fishery products.
Yesterday, 37 members of “El Ship” appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes, charged with unlawfully taking fish within the exclusive fishing zone of The Bahamas on September 17.
The prosecution said RBDF officers also found 211 pounds of undersized Nassau grouper – each weighing three pounds or less – along with several illegal spear guns onboard the vessel.
During the arraignment, all the men pleaded guilty to the offences.
Their attorney, Keevon Maynard, said the fishermen were very remorseful for their actions and understood the fishing industry was a treasure to The Bahamas. Mr Maynard argued that detaining the defendants would do more harm than good in view of the global COVID-19 pandemic and asked the magistrate to consider fining and deporting the men rather than sentencing them to prison.
Magistrate Forbes said while he was sympathetic to the plight of the circumstances in their home country, he found it regrettable that they would decide to enter Bahamian waters and engage in an activity that would be detrimental to the local fishing industry. He fined each of the crew members $20,000 or six months in prison. The vessel’s captain on the other hand, was fined $30,000 or nine months in custody. Magistrate Forbes said as soon as the fines were paid, the men would be deported back to their country.
Forty-four members of the “Angel Gabriel” meanwhile appeared before Magistrate Ferguson-Pratt after they were accused of engaging in illegal foreign fishing and being in possession of 211 pounds of undersized Nassau grouper on September 17.
The prosecution said RBDF officers also discovered 2,154 pounds of crawfish – each measuring less than 3 ¼ inches. They further accused the fishermen of using 13 spear guns and 14 dive compressors – two types of prohibited apparatus – to illegally catch marine life.
During the arraignment, all of the defendants pleaded guilty. They return to court today for sentencing.
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