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The sustainable development of a fisheries industry is crucial to the success of government’s planned programme of diversification of the economy and of creating productive linkages between sectors of the economy. A critical plank in this programme is the plan to increase the amount of locally produced, sourced and processed sea-food consumed by Bahamians and by visitors to our country.
Having undertaken initial studies of the spiny lobster and conch populations of The Bahamas during the past year, and having put in place arrangements to facilitate the local sourcing of sea-food by major hotels and restaurants in The Bahamas and by cruise ships calling at Bahamian ports, the FNM Government in its second term will: |
Expand extension services in the fisheries sector.
Relocate and expand the Shrimp Hatchery as the basis of a fully equipped Research Centre for the fisheries sector, an educational research centre for the College of The Bahamas and other institutions, and as a tourist attraction.
Support the development of Mariculture undertakings in The Bahamas.
Conduct, with international assistance and expertise, further studies on the fisheries resources of The Bahamas, including the proposed study of the grouper, during 1997.
Establish a Hurricane and Disaster Insurance Fund to assist fishermen confronted with extensive damage or destruction of commercial vessels and equipment as a result of natural disasters.
Strengthen enforcement of fisheries regulations in relation to sports fishing and commercial fishing.
Give consideration to the prohibition of the sale in local restaurants and hotels of spiny lobster, or to its export, outside of the spiny lobster season.
Enact legislation to require that all fisheries resources caught by pleasure craft be landed whole.
Establish specific bag limits for migratory fishery resources (kingfish, dolphin Wahoo and Tuna), and dermersal fishery resources caught by pleasure craft.
Review size and bag limits for other fishery resources such as spiny lobster, conch, groupers and hogsnappers, which may be caught by pleasure craft. |