LOCAL AUTHORITIES are so concerned about the volume of juvenile dolphins local fisherman are hauling in and selling that new regulations are being implemented to make it illegal to handle those below a certain size.
Chief Fisheries Officer Stephen Willoughby revealed the new regulations should be in place in a few months, making it an offence to not only catch small dolphins, but to buy or sell them as well.
According to well placed sources in the local industry, officials are worried that the practice has become so common in the region that they took the matter to CARICOM for agreement on a common approach to protecting the economically important protein source.
The issue was raised with the WEEKEND NATION by a veteran fisherman and boat owner who spoke only under the condition of anonymity for fear that his investment could be targeted by colleagues in the sector who object to his stance. (RRM)
Please read the full story in today’s Weekend Nation, or in the eNATION edition.
