Fishing group vows to go it alone on sea management
Fed-up fishermen have again broken ranks with the Bermuda Ocean Prosperity Programme, announcing their intention to draw up their own plan for the waters around Bermuda.
A marine conservation and management plan was rejected last year by the Fishermen’s Association of Bermuda, which criticised its proposal for the protection of 20 per cent of Bermuda’s waters.
Fishermen left the table last November and considered taking legal action against the BOPP after accusing the Government of ignoring their input.
Walter Roban, the Minister of Home Affairs, initially ruled out direct talks with the FAB after the group spurned further feedback meetings on the draft proposal.
Fishermen presented a petition against the BOPP to David Burt and Cabinet this January, with the Premier and other officials offering to meet directly.
Fishermen presented a draft memorandum of understanding to the Government for “re-establishing trust between the parties involved”.
In a statement this afternoon, fishermen said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources had failed to heed alternative proposals.
The group accused Mr Roban of leaving negotiations to “a rigid position demonstrated by technical officers of DENR” and said fishermen had been cast in an unfair light as “more interested in catching every fish in the ocean rather than practising effective marine stewardship”.
The Association said it intended to withdraw from further talks and focus on “developing the outline for a Bermuda Plan” as an alternative.
“Bermuda's fishers have a keen interest in marine sustainability.
“They have much to offer in terms of knowledge, experience and passion that has so far been stifled in the BOPP process.
“We look forward to working with other stakeholders to develop a real Bermuda solution.”
• To read the FAB statement in full, click on the PDF under “Alternative Media”.
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