Already over-fished, Jamaica is facing an another threat to its biodiversity, from the growing number of spearfishers who continue to operate in open defiance of regulations designed to curb their activities.
An amendment to the Fishing Industry Act in 2011 states that: “A person shall not, between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. use for the purpose of harvesting fish, any impaling device – including Hawaiian sling, speargun or any other impaling device”.
However, this has not had the desired effect of slowing spearfishing which is growing and now threatens not only fish but lobster, queen conch, octopus and other marine resources.
A study, spearheaded by renowned marine scientist Dr Karl Aiken, has shown that spearfishing now poses the single-greatest threat to Jamaica’s marine biodiversity.
Aiken, senior lecturer and a fisheries expert in the Department of Life Sciences at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, is convinced that the failure of successive government’s to pass into law the new Fisheries Act has contributed to this worsening state of affairs.
“It is a national disgrace that the new Fisheries Bill, with suitable large fines and penalties, has not reached Parliament for passing since the first draft of 1996, some 17 years ago. Wrongdoers know this, so they take the chance knowing that trivial fines will be levied on them, if they are caught,” a frustrated Aiken told The Sunday Gleaner.
“We cannot go on like this,” added Aiken who was speaking with our news team after making a presentation at the International Fisherman’s Day Conference at the Farmers Training Centre, Twickenham Park, St Catherine recently.
CAUSE FOR CONCERN
Aiken said the findings of another recent study have given him even more cause for concern.
Among the disturbing findings is an emerging trend of a fishing technique employing the simultaneous use of seine nets and spearfishing gear.
In that case nets are set around an area and any fish that that did not ‘strike’ the net, were then shot with spearguns.
Add to that, spearfishing at nights, especially when done with light gives the fish little or no chance of escape, and the prospects for replenishing Jamaica’s rapidly declining fishing stock continues to take a nose dive.
“This is because diurnal reef fish sleep at night. Propping themselves up in holes and cavities, they spin a protective mucous cocoon which has the effect of masking their scent, significantly reducing their risk of being detected by predators and if left undisturbed, actually do sleep until dawn.
“So against night-time spearfishers with flashlights they have no chance of escape.”
Unfortunately, in Jamaica spearfishing is a large and growing sub-sector with high daily and weekly takes from the sea.
It is estimated that more than 2,000 speafishers are operating across the island.
Some 97 per cent of the spearfishers,interviewed in Aiken’s most recent study, admitted to going to sea at least once every day with the remaining three per cent making two trips per day.
In addition, more than a quarter (28 per cent) of spearfishers admitted to using an underwater light source, with some 25 to 30 per cent admitting to engaging in night fishing, even though they are aware it is illegal to do.
According to Aiken, Jamaica continues to lag behind its regional neighbours, doing comparatively very little in the way of preserving its vast but finite marine resources.
In other Caribbean countries spearfishing is strictly regulated or banned completely, with the Hawaiian sling the only spearfishing device approved for use in The Bahamas.
Gear such as self-contained underwater breathing apparatus and air compressors are not allowed when harvesting fish, conch, crawfish or other marine animals.
In Jamaica, none of these is banned.
Aiken argued that with 74 per cent of all spearfishers going to sea all year round, the need for enforcement of the ban on night fishing takes on greater urgency.
While he is aware of the economic importance of their catch on the lives of spearfishers and their families, Aiken wants stricter regulations for spearfishing, which would include registration of all persons involved in this activity.
He is against a complete ban but wants regulations governing a minimum size for fish shot and penalties for undersized catch.
“Unless and until this and much more is done to safeguard Jamaica’s marine animals, their future and the economic welfare of those who make a living from hunting them will become murkier,” argued Aiken.
2013 Gleaner Company Ltd.