Foreign fishers have long plundered Jamaica's waters

THE EDITOR, Sir:

The problem of foreign vessels entering our waters and stealing from our fisheries has been plaguing us for a long time.

The Fisheries Advisory Board, in conjunction with biologists from the University of the West Indies, recently did a study on the impact of this illegal activity. Conservative estimates are that it is costing Jamaica in excess of $600 million per year, with the catch being mainly lobster and conch from Pedro Banks. Pedro Banks is a shelf which is located south-southwest of Jamaica and is one of the largest offshore banks in the Caribbean Basin. It belongs to Jamaica, and is one of the country's last remaining healthy marine ecosystems.

Our local fishermen live and depend on these islands, as it has one of the largest populations of conch in the world. Conch and lobster fisheries is heavily regulated in Jamaica. Apart from there being seasons, licences are given out with specific quotas that can be caught within a season. The conch and lobster stolen from these banks are usually exported to the United States and Europe.

The Fisheries Advisory Board is still waiting on an official report from the Jamaican Coastguard, as we are receiving mixed information. Notwithstanding, the Fisheries Advisory Board does not condone violence or the shooting of anyone. But from all the information we have received, it is clear that the Jamaican Coastguard acted within the rules of engagement at sea.

There have been numerous incidents in the past whereby our coastguard had given fair warning, made threats and did not act because of the inherent risks associated with taking further action. As a result, Honduran vessels continued to challenge and defy our coastguard by fishing illegally under their noses. Our coastguard was not taken very serious in following through with their threats. If the security forces make a request for you to stop your vessel while at sea, you must abide by the law and stop.

The Fisheries Advisory Board met with the coastguard as recently as December 9, 2010 to analyse and make recommendations to the Government with regard to this problem, as it was a crisis that needed a speedy resolution.

The Fisheries Advisory Board stands in support of the actions of the coastguard, and assures the people of Jamaica that we are working in unison to protect the interests of Jamaica's fisheries.

I am, etc.,

MATTHEW DELEON

Chairman

The Fisheries Advisory Board