Antigua and Barbuda
Activist Believes Negligence Will Destroy Fisheries Industry
- Details
- Environment Articles
- Wednesday, 20 June 2012 02:30
- By caribarena news
Antigua St John's - The situation of negligence is screamingly loud in the Antigua & Barbuda fisheries industry, and this is being translated into the international policies that the country signs on to.
This is the position of environmental activist Nemo, who said the cries of some in the industry are being aimed in the wrong direction.
And he suggests that the focus from all circles be turned on the issues that really matter before the seemingly imminent demise of the local fisheries industry becomes a reality.
|
|
Nemo suggests that serious consideration return to the foundation established by the provisions of the Fisheries Act that was supposed to have been implemented since 2006.
Instead, says Nemo, the fisheries minister is being allowed to continue to operate the industry on his whims and on his own notions of what is best for his voters.
The environmental activist maintains that Antigua & Barbuda must operate like a triangle, with its operation coming from the center of ecology, and economy rather than from any one particular point that could weaken the others instead of maintaining the strength it needs.
He says that the issue of whaling is not one that should lead Antigua & Barbuda to find itself in the middle of any controversy, since the subject is not mentioned in any official fisheries document promulgated by the government.
To support his theory of confusion and negligence, Nemo cited a correspondence from the government in 2006 to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Secretariat in Geneva Switzerland pleading for the lifting of a ten-year ban on the export of queen conch. The ban had been imposed owing to a depleted population of queen conch.
The plea, signed by then Minister of Marine Resources Senator Joan Massiah, was justified based on the existence of what was then a newly drafted Fisheries Act that was to have been debated and passed in parliament during that year.
The international community accepted the plea and lifted the ban on the export. But seven years later, the Act that gives the minister the power to put limits on fishing periods for various species in the industry is still to be enforced.
“Instead what we have is a minister who is directing everyone to do what he wants. And although he openly acknowledges not being a technical person and he relies on the advice of the technicians, he still does what he wants. And he claims that if he were to put a season on fishing it would hamper the livelihoods of his voters. But in 10 years there would be no livelihood to talk about because there will be nothing left,” Nemo said.
Furthermore, Nemo noted that should Antigua continue to neglect the issues of consequence and channel its energies into matters like whaling that have no bearing on its own fisheries industry, it will redound to the detriment of not only the local industry but also those of the island nations west of the country that depend on the migration of locally exploited species like conch and lobster.
Recently Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer announced that the government would likely again be supporting the bid by Japan to continue its whaling operations despite pressure from the international community. This vote is set to take place in Panama when the International Whaling Commission holds its Plenary Session from July 2 – 6.
International observers are increasingly viewing the “aid” given by Japan to Antigua & Barbuda and other small nations to strengthen their fisheries business as more of a bribe than an aid initiative, since neither the government nor the Japanese seem to have anything resembling a plan for developing the industry.
Another activist, Eli Fuller, said the act was clearly a bribery arrangement between the government of Antigua & Barbuda and the Japanese, with little to no effort at concealment.
But Nemo believes the situation is much bigger than a specific issue of whaling, and encompasses the acts of government, exporters and fishermen alike. And, says Nemo, the commonality that connects all these levels is negligence reflected in not only how the industry is managed locally but also how it is negotiated for internationally.
 Cites B.jpeg | 81 Kb | 72 Downloads |
| Cites-1.jpeg | 86 Kb | 57 Downloads |
| Cites-2.jpeg | 36 Kb | 62 Downloads |
Popular Questions
Ask Your Question
Spotlight on Tourism
Most Read in Environment
Search Directory
Directory Listings
App
Download Caribarena's Android App
Click To Download
13 Comments In This Article
Sen Massiah...
Sadly much as I thought Sen Massiah would be an ideal candidate she too has had every opportunity to do the right thing, Min Baptiste inherited this situation, she had what three years to stand by her letter to CITES.
The PM had high level meetings with or French neighbors and fisheries issues between the islands was never even mentioned in press release..and the French fish regularly in our water.
Just last week serious threat to Antiguan fishermen where made by them in three cases, continuing the many previous incidents!
Nemo
Cabinet Reshuffle & Graceful Realignment!
In Comments Titled Each Endeavouring All Achieving - Forging Forward to A Blue Renaissance 2012-01-05 21:36 it was suggested that the Good Hon. Dr. PM. be guided by Solon or better yet Nelson Mandela to create A Super Ministry of the Environment to include Agriculture, Lands, Fishery, Tourim, Aviation, Security, Public Works, etc under the leadership of the Good Hon. Dr. Min Of Security.
Urgency demands action, hence if the Good Hon Dr. PM does not wish to be Transformative but be Transactional, it would be most apropos, given the reduced energy of the Hon Min of Agriculture, Lands & Fishery, to return the Fisheries Portfolio to the Good Lady Senator Massiah. She will no doubt implement the Fishery Act of 2004.
The time for diddling present & future generations while the fishery is going to Perry Bay in a "Cockle Basket" and kicking over Microwaves has long past.
Heaven Help the Nation Of Antigua & Barbuda including Redonda.
John French II
Activist Believes Negligence Will Destroy Fishing Industry
Anu
Nemo views not those of Antigua Conservation Society
ACS
RE: Activist Believes Negligence Will Destroy Fisheries Industry
Who Bex Dead
SHIP OF FOOLS...!!!!
QUEEN
Petition = Democracy
Educate, enforce, enhance
Nemo
Poor us!
Brother B Fails
"I am not a technician"
dadlison
RE: Activist Believes Negligence Will Destroy Fisheries Industry
yt
Petition = Democracy
http://www.change.org/petitions/prime-minister-hon-baldwin-spencer-take-action-now-to-save-antigua-barbuda-s-coral-reefs
Nemo
RE: Activist Believes Negligence Will Destroy Fisheries Industry
Morris
Fishing season
Skyewill
RSS