Dear Sir,

As a young person and someone invested in Bermuda’s future, I would like to speak out regarding the recent media back-and-forth between the Fishermen’s Association of Bermuda, the Bermuda Ocean Prosperity Programme and our local scientists. I’m writing this not as a former member of the Opposition, but as a concerned member of the community and an appreciator of Bermuda’s astounding marine life.

Bermuda is privileged to be a site of incredible scenery, wildlife and a hub for ocean science with a steadied history of conservation and heritage. In 1620, we became the first nation in the world to enact environmental protection for our juvenile green turtle population. In more recent memory, Bermuda enacted the Fisheries Act (1972) and in the 1990s, banned fishpots and protected parrotfish species. While these policies were protested initially, most fishermen can now appreciate that they preserved marine life essential to the health of Bermuda's oceans.

The science speaks for itself. If we want to look outside Bermuda, we can view Cabo Pulmo, Mexico, as an example. Restrictions from 1995 to 2009 on fishing in marine-protected areas increased biomass to more than 450 per cent. This led to greater biodiversity and economically benefited the local population — including fishermen — significantly. Now Cabo Pulmo's diverse marine life has rebounded after decades of overfishing, strengthening the overall ecosystem and economy of this area across multiple sectors.

According to a variety of studies and conservation programmes, the use of MPAs has been trialled and tested, adapted to a variety of marine ecosystems globally, from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean. Since the 1980s and 1990s, this scheme has proved itself time and time again, wildly successful in every instance of its implementation where the programme has been allowed to thrive, with engagement and enforcement from officials and the local community.

While the fishermen’s concerns regarding their income is valid, what’s concerning is the FAB’s insistence that the “No 1 factor in successful MPAs is buy-in from the local fishing industry” and that “all methods of data collection require and benefit from a co-operative relationship between fishers and regulators/scientists”. This creates a narrative where the FAB present themselves as the most important stakeholder in a conversation that affects every single resident of this island.

Regarding their second point, it is our duty as Bermudians to hold one another accountable. If successful, the Marine Spatial Plan will address the problem of enforcement, which has already seen an uptick in prosecutions.

Their claim that Bermuda’s fishing is “stable” and that we haven’t exceeded the maximum sustainable yield does not address the fact that certain species are critically low and may soon be irrecoverable, which will create more problems down the line for our island, including fishermen. Another concern is that when one population starts to dip, populations of other commercially viable fish will take the hit to compensate for the lower yield. The fishermen still benefit and recoup their income while our ecosystem suffers.

Finally, if we don’t protect our marine life now, then when will we? Should we wait until our marine biodiversity and fish stocks have crashed and are unrecoverable? Should we continue moving the goalposts to make a relatively small percentage of the community happy? Should we do away with any action to protect our environment, leaving nothing for Bermuda’s future generations?

While my goal isn’t to outrage or generalise our fishermen, as they are truly an essential part of our economy and community, I am frustrated by the vocal minority — and feet-dragging from our representatives — ignoring the long-term strategy and success of a plan such as the BOPP’s despite the evidence and assurances that are based on real, global data. While the Marine Spatial Plan isn’t perfect, it has been designed to be adaptable and adjustable to our island’s needs, tweaked over time to best fit Bermuda’s unique situation.

Let’s not forget, this is an opportunity for Bermuda to become a beacon of environmental stewardship on the world stage, reflecting our centuries-long heritage of conservation. The open letter signed by more than 70 registered companies and charities from diverse industries, along with broad support from our scientific community, illustrates what’s at stake. Without a healthy marine ecosystem to protect our coral reefs, provide food for Bermuda and attract visitors to our shores, we wouldn’t have a functioning island. Our ocean is our lifeline. Let’s act like it.

SOPHIA TESSITORE

Pembroke