Recreational fishermen who fish in the Bahamas are alarmed over a proposal currently being considered by the Bahamian government which would allow the purse seining of yellowfin tuna in the Northwest Providence Channel south of Freeport on Grand Bahama island.
Each spring, large schools of yellowfin aggregate in the passage, providing great action for private and charter boats. But the proposal would allow a single purse seine boat, estimated to be more than 100 feet long and rigged with a mile-long, 900 foot deep seine net. The boat reportedly has a Mediterranean crew trained in large-scale fishing and intends to sell the haul outside the Bahamas.
Conservationists within the Bahamas and in other countries are fighting the proposal since purse seines can wipe out stock of fish quickly, destroying what by all accounts is a thriving fishery.
If you would like to comment on the porposal, send an e-mail to – bantunanettingbahamas@gmail.com
