The Tribune

By Fay Simmons

Tribune Business Reporter

jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

The government will move forward with a strategic plan for the management of moorings, said Prime Minister Philip Davis yesterday, as he said the marine sector is “underrepresented” in revenue collections.

During his mid-year budget contribution, Mr Davis said marine areas are “economic assets and ecological sanctuaries” and policies must ensure the environment is protected.

He said foreign charters choose to anchor in the seabed instead of utilsing marinas and paying taxes like other cruise or stop over visitors and should compensate the government through mooring fees.

“This is perhaps a good moment to address a related issue, that of the placement, use, and maintenance of moorings throughout our archipelago. Our vast marine areas are both critical economic assets and ecological sanctuaries, and our policies must balance the needs of island residents, recreational boaters, and marina owners, while taking into consideration at all times the need for environmental protection and marine conservation,” said Mr Davis.

“Here again, we confront a situation in which our waters are being utilised, at a cost to Bahamians, but frequently without compensation to Bahamian business owners or Bahamian taxpayers. For example, consider the foreign charter who enters our waters, and does not dock at one of our marinas, but instead anchors on our seabed. Hotel and cruise visitors pay fees and taxes, and our position is that all visitors who cross our borders and enjoy our waters should do so.”

Mr Davis noted the Maritime Taskforce has brought in over $20m in additional revenue since it began inspecting vessels, recovering outstanding commercial dock fees, and reassessing coastal properties and mariners traversing our waters must “pay for that privilege” and although the government has cracked down on the industry the charter business is “thriving”.

He said placing and managing moorings is a “very expensive undertaking” and the short lived deal with Bahamas Moorings had to be terminated due to the company installing moorings before obtaining the necessary permits.

“The placement, inspection, and ongoing maintenance of hundreds of moorings over vast distances is a very expensive undertaking. There are multiple mooring sites throughout our Family Islands – for example, in Abaco, Eleuthera, and the Exumas. Those who manage the moorings earn the revenue generated from their use,” said Mr Davis.

“As many know, our government recently granted a Bahamian-owned company the right to install and operate moorings at specified locations in the Exumas, outside of our national marine reserve area. However, some moorings were installed before the company obtained necessary permissions, and a cease-and-desist order was issued. The company has agreed to voluntarily relinquish their leases, and to remove any moorings already placed.”

He noted that “many Bahamians” were in favour of implementing and effectively managing moorings and broad consultation will be done with stakeholders to develop a national stragic plan to manage moorings.

“As this matter has been discussed over the last few days, many Bahamians spoke in favour of improving participation in and oversight of the process governing moorings. That makes a lot of sense – our waters belong to all of us, and our marine policies can only benefit from broader and deeper public consultation. It is important to me that we have policies which Bahamians can contribute to and trust, which is why we have committed to moving forward with developing a new national strategic plan for the management of moorings,” said Mr Davis.

“Arrangements involving moorings have traditionally been handled ad hoc, and one at a time, within the existing legal and regulatory framework, but as science and technology and the climate are all in flux, we can benefit from updating and more clearly defining and implementing our country’s policies. We intend to move forward quickly to seek advice and input from citizens, local government officials, boaters, fishermen, marine owners, marine conservation experts, and others.”