[xml][/xml]
The Bahamas Weekly Facebook The Bahamas Weekly Twitter
News : Local Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM


The Moore Bahamas Foundation Applauds Government, BREEF on Grouper Season Closure
By Diane Phillips & Associates
Dec 10, 2014 - 11:59:43 AM

Email this article
 Mobile friendly page
Grouper-2---Credit---Stuart-Cove-Fin-Photo.jpg
One of the largest supporters of marine conservation in The Bahamas today lauded government for its decision to declare a fixed closed fishing season and BREEF for its campaign that helped lead to that decision allowing the critically endangered Nassau Grouper a chance to spawn.

Kudos came from The Moore Bahamas Foundation, an affiliate of Louis Bacon’s Moore Charitable Foundation, following the announcement that legislation was being introduced to ensure a three-month safe season for the prized fish to reproduce. In the past, whether or not to close the season to commercial or recreational fishermen was made by the sitting Minister of Agriculture & Fisheries and there was no guarantee that there would be any protection period to enable the species that has shown a 60% decline over the past three decades to regenerate.

This week, as those who have campaigned hard for a closed season worried that none had been announced, the Department of Marine Resources announced it was not only declaring the next 90 days closed, but that it would amend existing legislation so the decision would prevail annually. It was a move BREEF and The Moore Bahamas Foundation hailed as a victory for fishermen as well as for the species.

“This is one of the greatest victories in the battle to preserve and conserve nature’s marine resources, and The Moore Bahamas Foundation (MBF) is pleased to offer congratulations to the Government of The Bahamas, in particular the Department of Marine Resources, for taking the bold step of creating a permanent three-month closed season to allow the Nassau Grouper natural time to spawn,” said Ann Colley, MBF Executive Director. “We also wish to congratulate our long-time partner in marine conservation and education, the Bahamas Reef Environment Education Foundation (BREEF) for its tireless, 20-year campaign that helped lead to this important decision.”

“Many people think that the closed season on Nassau Grouper was legislated in The Bahamas since the country has been closing the fishery each winter since the late 1990s," stated BREEF's executive Director Casuarina McKinney-Lambert, "but this new commitment to amend the legislation for the closed season with fixed dates is a very important management action. In the past, the lack of advance notice of closure failed to give the public, including seafood vendors, fishermen, restaurants and law enforcement time to prepare. Because it was decided annually, it also gave rise to confusion and conflict."

“This is not just about a fish. People’s livelihoods will be significantly impacted if this fishery collapses,” she said.

The decision was also applauded by senior research scientist at the Perry Institute of Marine Science Dr. Craig Dahlgren who has done extensive marine research in The Bahamas.

"The research that we have been doing over the past 20 years indicates that a closed season during spawning months is essential to sustainable Nassau grouper fisheries," said Dr. Dahlgren.

A Long Island fisherman who also thanked government went a step further, calling on authorities to prosecute those who fail to obey the closure.

Colton Cartwright, a fisherman taking part in the Nassau grouper spawning aggregation research, said he "supports the closed season and would like to see enforcement focused on fish houses that are buying illegally caught fish and on foreign poachers."

Concern with collapse of the species is not unwarranted. Nassau Grouper populations have dwindled dramatically or been totally eradicated in Florida, Bermuda, numerous Caribbean countries and even in one well-known Bimini aggregation site, according to BREEF’s research, supported in part by The Moore Bahamas Foundation. The two organizations have worked closely in several other marine preservation projects. In 2013, The Moore Bahamas Foundation awarded BREEF a commitment of $150,000 over three years to fund the position of research and field conservation officer to boost the number of students experiencing firsthand the waters, coral reefs and marine resources of Goulding Cay and the Western Bays off Clifton.

In 2013, The Moore Bahamas Foundation sponsored The Bahamas National Trust’s Nassau Grouper Conservation Strategy Meeting bringing together local experts, scientists and conservationists from as far away as Cayman and New York to Nassau for intensive workshop sessions aimed at creating a plan to save the declining grouper population. Participants included renowned artist and marine scientist, Guy Harvey, and Dr. Craig Dahlgren – the goal, a 5-year strategy to ensure right steps are taken to preserve Nassau grouper.

“The Nassau grouper with its distinctive appearance, its role in the ecological chain of coral reefs and its place in the Bahamian diet is integral to the Bahamian menu and culture and is a backbone of the fishing industry,” said Ms. Colley. “But in recent years, the numbers have declined significantly and fewer Nassau groupers are surviving to the sizes they once were. Prudent management including an enforced closed fishing season during spawning months will go a long way toward preserving this important species. Our hats are off to BREEF for its dedicated work fighting for this moment as well as the Government of The Bahamas for recognizing the need before it was too late. The Bahamas has been a leader in shark protection and will now make another impressive mark on the marine environment with the enabling of the spawning of Nassau grouper.”

(Nassau Grouper – Credit Stuart Cove Fin Photo )

About The Moore Charitable Foundation

The Moore Charitable Foundation, founded by lifelong conservationist Louis Bacon in 1992, is a family foundation working to preserve and protect natural resources for future generations.

About The Moore Bahamas Foundation

In The Bahamas, affiliate The Moore Bahamas Foundation (MBF) strives to protect the fragile marine environment that constitutes 90% of the island nation treasured for the beauty of its seas. MBF funds shark and marine species research, education & summer youth programs and lends support, including legal expertise, to partners including The Bahamas National Trust, BREEF, The Nature Conservancy and Save The Bays.

 


Bookmark and Share




© Copyright 2014 by thebahamasweekly.com

Top of Page

Receive our Top Stories



Preview | Powered by CommandBlast

Local
Latest Headlines
72 Foreign Nationals repatriated To Haiti
Haitian Migrants apprehended 
on Sunday
RBDF Searching for possible Haitian Sloops and Migrants 

Update to RBDF coordinated Search and Rescue Mission for Missing Boaters
95 haitian nationals repatriated