Foreign Fishing Boats Will Not Be Licensed
[Updated] Government has decided that the option of licensing international fishing vessels is not in Bermuda’s best interest, Minister of Environment, Planning and Infrastructure Strategy Marc Bean said in the House of Assembly today [Mar.16].
Last month, Premier Paula Cox announced in the 2012/13 Budget Statement that Government had initiated discussions with relevant parties to assess the feasibility of establishing a licensing regime for international fishing vessels taking fish stocks out of Bermuda’s 200 mile maritime Exclusive Economic Zone.
“These discussions were initiated because of Government’s concern regarding the real possibility that foreign flagged fishing vessels are fishing in Bermuda waters illegally and may have been doing so for many years,” said Minister Bean today.
“After further examination and consultation with technical staff, the Government has decided that the option of licensing international fishing vessels is not in Bermuda’s best interest. Instead, the Government has opted to assess ways to enhance enforcement capabilities so that illegal fishers can be apprehended.”
Minister Bean said the Government will continue to encourage local fishermen who wish to engage in offshore fishing saying, “Bermuda has rights and access to the fishery resources of a vast expanse of ocean and it would be very short-sighted of us not to utilize these resources and avail ourselves of the resultant economic benefits, especially since many of the species that are available for capture around Bermuda are currently flown into the Island every week for our consumption.
“The Department of Environmental Protection has developed terms and conditions for offshore fishing that adhere to current best practices aimed at minimizing by-catch and the Government is confident that offshore fishing can be conducted by local fishermen in Bermuda’s waters in an environmentally responsible manner,” said the Minister.
The One Bermuda Alliance had said they were “alarmed” by the proposal to licence foreign fishing boats as the proposal “would appear to fly in the face” of the Government’s proposal to create one of the world’s largest maritime reserves, and as fishermen in deep water mainly use long line fishing, which has been attacked by international conservation groups as the by-catch involves the slaughtering of thousands of unwanted creatures.
The Minister’s full statement follows below:
Mr. Speaker
I rise today to clarify for this Honourable House the Ministry of Environment, Planning and Infrastructure Strategy’s position on Long Line Fishing in our Exclusive Economic Zone.
Mr. Speaker
As you know, The Hon. Paula A. Cox, JP, MP announced in the 2012-2013 Budget Statement on 24th February 2012 that Government had initiated discussions with relevant parties to assess the feasibility of establishing a licensing regime for international fishing vessels taking fish stocks out of Bermuda’s 200 mile maritime Exclusive Economic Zone.
These discussions were initiated because of Government’s concern regarding the real possibility that foreign flagged fishing vessels are fishing in Bermuda waters illegally and may have been doing so for many years.
The issue of illegal fishing, which is widely known as IUU fishing (Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing), is not only a problem for Bermuda but is a very significant global problem. Illegal fishing poses a large threat to the health of the ocean’s fish stocks and other marine life and diminishes the effectiveness of management and conservation measures adopted by various regional fisheries management organisations to encourage sustainable harvest of these resources. Illegal fishing activities therefore also jeopardise the livelihoods of those who depend on the ocean’s resources, such as our local fishermen.
Mr. Speaker
IUU fishing is being combated internationally in a number of ways, and Government received advice that one of the most effective ways to control the activities of foreign fishing vessels wishing to fish in the Exclusive Economic Zone was by way of licensing. With this information, the Government decided to assess the feasibility of this option as it also had the potential to bring in revenue.
However, after further examination and consultation with technical staff, the Government has decided that the option of licensing international fishing vessels is not in Bermuda’s best interest. Instead, the Government has opted to assess ways to enhance enforcement capabilities so that illegal fishers can be apprehended.
Current Fisheries legislation allows for a fine of up to $1 million for any person onboard a foreign fishing vessel who takes fish within the Exclusive Economic Zone without a licence. Government will review this legislation to ensure that the necessary legal mechanisms are in place to deal effectively with the various aspects of IUU fishing.
Mr. Speaker
The people of Bermuda should be aware, however, that this Government will continue to encourage local fishermen who wish to engage in offshore fishing.
Bermuda has rights and access to the fishery resources of a vast expanse of ocean and it would be very short-sighted of us not to utilize these resources and avail ourselves of the resultant economic benefits, especially since many of the species that are available for capture around Bermuda are currently flown into the Island every week for our consumption.
The Department of Environmental Protection has developed terms and conditions for offshore fishing that adhere to current best practices aimed at minimizing by-catch and the Government is confident that offshore fishing can be conducted by local fishermen in Bermuda’s waters in an environmentally responsible manner.
Thank you Mr. Speaker
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Update 4.20pm: Shadow Minister for the Environment, Planning & Housing Senator Michael Fahy said, “Environment Minister Marc Bean has made a statement in the House of Assembly today, announcing that he has reversed his earlier decision to license foreign vessels to fish in Bermuda’s 200-mile maritime economic zone.
“I congratulate him. I believe he has made a decision that will go a long way to ensuring that Bermuda continues to play a positive part in the conservation of the Atlantic ocean environment. I’m glad, too, that he has now taken the needs of local fishermen into account, although I do have a slight reservation about the way he phrased his statement.
“Mr Bean said: “the Department of Environmental Protection has developed terms and conditions for offshore fishing that adhere to current best practices, aimed at minimising by-catch and the Government is confident that offshore fishing can be conducted by local fishermen in Bermuda’s waters in an environmentally-responsible manner.”
“As is well known, conservationists the world over condemn this practice, because of the enormous collateral damage for which it is known to be responsible. It would be a great shame if the Minister’s reversal had the effect of simply swapping one set of longline fishermen for another,” concluded Senator Fahy.
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How many overseas consultants were hired to make this decision?!?
Shutup. Just shutup.
Yeah, Bean did it all by himself, after announcing the exact opposite 3 weeks ago,
Didn’t need a consultant. Made a mess of it all by himself.
Does this mean that Bermuda will not be buying any drones?
what? I was planing on making a few to sell to the Gov.
sigh another invetion gone down the drain. i cant seem to find the funnding fast enough
don’t need to buy no drones….got enough of them on the back benches…most on the front benches too
flip..flop…flip flop…flip..flop..
So my fellow Bermudians – - – PLP and OBA alike – - The Minister has stated the government’s position – - any problems?
I spoke on this issue earlier in the week when OBA Senator Fahy, in my humble opinion, spoke out to score political brownie points – - this statement from the Minister seems to dash them to the ground.
Let us look at the “what” we say versus the “why” we say – - it makes better sense, don’t you think?
Yng Black Mind
(those who know understand)
Morning YBM. It is good to see the reversal by Minister Bean, but as ever there is bound to be more we don’t know about. Why was this suggestion included in the Budget 3 weeks ago in the first place? Had any real research been done? It was made public and Senator Fahy questioned it publicly. This sounds to me normal politics – one party says something and the other questions it. Had Senator Fahy not raised it publicly, but instead merely put questions in private to the Minister, would this reversal have happened? I don’t know, but somehow doubt it. At least it is now finished and not festering, like so many other issues.
If this is the government’s well-considered and mature opinion, fine. But why did they announce the opposite in the Budget? The Budget is not sprung on them by surprise…they have a year to prepare for it. It’s An Important Speech. Yet they fill it with things they can’t actually do. And then they have to announce changes, 3 weeks later, once they actually think carefully.
It makes them look ridiculous.
Hardly. He made a rash decision and had to back peddle fast when he realized it was stupid.
Not exactly a way to run a country, one would hope they’d think things through a little bit first, but when you’re blessed without functioning synapses, I guess this is the best you can do.
@YBM ,
So what’s more important ? Percieved political brownie points being scored by someone you probably would never vote for. The environment (which won in the end) .
Now he should concentrate on banning long line fishing by local fishermen as there are several out there that already do it.
C’mon man-serious
You have an issue with my suggestion? Please elaborate.
Well Done!!
Another grand idea out of the the very shallow PLP think tank that was not going to fly from the begining.
Flip flop….flop.
Well HURRAY for you Mr. Bean!! Finally, something I can say “well done” about, although I must echo Mr. Fahy’s reservation regarding local long-line fishing. Please take whatever steps might be necessary to ensure that our marine life is fully protected.
Senator Fahy should have left out the last paragraph. Bean didn’t appear to mention long-lining.
On the other hand, controlled long or vertical lining, with rules and regulations as to max number of hooks etc., does work in a small environment like Bermuda. Subject of course to the caveat that there be proper regulation and enforcement to ensure compliance with rules and regulations and with appropriate sanction.
You talk sh%t Pitts Bay.
Enforcement.
What freeking retail store are you washing windows at.
Go back to BIAW.
I’m very glad that they took the time to think this through and ask more questions and ultimately make what I believe to be the best decision.
Took the time to “think it through”?
Here’s an idea that the PLP would find completely revolutionary. How about actually thinking about an idea BEFORE ANNOUNCING IT!
Then they wouldn’t have to keep looking like such idiots when they reverse everything.
Nah, keep doing this. It gives us all such a good laugh!
The question you need to ask is..would he have done this if it were not for public outcry in an election year.
They’re flinging sh!t to see what sticks. Amateurs.
Hooray and thank you.
Gee whiz, what part of the 2012/13 Budget Statement is going to ‘stick’. More importantly, who wrote it and did the Premier read it before going public? First a flipflop on the clawback of seniors’ license fees, now a flipflop on licensing international fishing vessels. OK, great that the Government is listening – I’ll give them that – so why not listen to the pain of empty Hamilton, dying St. George’s, crime-ridden Somerset, unemployed Bermudians, disappearing jobs and companies, more and more public housing that is ruining real estate values, etc. etc. Please PLP, do some more flipflopping of your disastrous policies that are just killing this economy. And please stop going into more debt to pay interest on your already massive debt – this is no ‘investment’.
I’ll have the pan fried red herring. Please make sure you flip it at least twice.
The poor Pee el Pee sycophants (look it up SpecialNeedsGirl) are spinning so fast they don’t know which way is up. Just a few days ago they were all cheering the latest great idea from the Pee el Pee – licensing those durned furriners fishing in our waters. Now we hear its a flop.
I wonder why Marc Bean can’t make a similar quick decision on Zane & Furbert’s planning applications?
All are talking out of thier asses.
Simple.
You can’t control what you can’t control.
Flip flop.
Spin.
Read what was written.
never mind.
Regardless of the political motivations surrounding this issue and the sudden discussion of it in the build up to elections, the fact remains that vessels from other countries are potentially fishing our waters without regulation. THAT is what flies in the face of any plan to create one of the world’s largest marine reserves.
It will surely be a costly endeavour to enforce our exclusive access to the EEZ. I am curious how it will be paid for.
I can’t see how either. I hope they can find a way because it’s already happening. I also hope local fisherman abandon any long lining aspirations. Totally destructive to the marine environment. If the oceans become a desert the planet dies. Ban long lining and catch them doing it.
This would be hilarious if it were not so serious. Every week something else bubbles to the surface that has been given very little thought bt the PLP. Well, maybe they have given some thought but they are so inept they cannot produce any better.
The one guarantee is that whatever hairbrained idea it is, it has or will cost the the taxpayer millions. That is the very sad part.
Vote the bums out.
There you go somthing usefull for the Regment to do. The JDF are doing it aswell
Is there anything left from the original budget now? I think just about everything has been flip flopped
What’s the next budget proposal to be tossed aside?
i bet if the oba did not raise it we would have many japanese fleets raping our water
I heard Mr. Bean on VSB News this afternoon downplaying the importance of the 2000+ signature petition to ban long-line fishing. He stated something to the effect that he had never heard anyone being concerned about the foreign vesseels fishing our waters before, attributing present concerns to pre-electioneering.
Mr. Bean, I truly hope that you will listen closely to the messages from your people and not get caught up in ascribing possible motivations. Remember too,that you are not privy to every lunchtime, coffee break, dinner party, cocktail party, conversation around this island. So just because you haven’t heard the concerns doesn’t mean they didn’t exist.Some of us have been concerned for years about Japanese trawlers and their impact on our marine life, but this is the first time there has been any indication by government that they too are concerned and considering ways to curtail or control foreign trawler activity.
I share below a relevant communication from a friend on the island of Dominica, with permission from the writer, and some editing to preserve anonymity.
“We have a Fishing Cooperative system here which is very effective:.
There are about 11 Fishing Cooperatives on the island. There is also a National Fisheries Co-op (NAFCOOP), which is made up of executive members of each Co-op. We then have a Caribbean Network of Fisheries Organizations (CNFO). This organization is made up of members of The National Fisheries Organisation throughout the Caribbean(11). I believe that Bermuda has observer status, but have not joined for some reason……affluence maybe?.
The purpose of CNFO is to try to enhance the livelihood of Fishermen, and to establish a sustainable Fishing Industry. CNFO just presented its views to a paper on Ecosystems Management For Sustainable Fish Supply ( By FAO). This paper has been approved by The Ministerial Council in The Caribbean.( This Council is made up of Fisheries Ministers throughout the Caribbean Govts)
I say all this so you can better understand the force behind the preservation of The Marine Environment.
We attend lots of related workshops throughout the world, where we share our experiences and adopt effective policies to help sustain our food supply of fish. We receive scientific data on the effects of certain practices on land which affect our fish supply, as well as “Fishing Practices”.
“Long Lining” is one of the fishing practices that we wish to discourage here because of its destructive nature of unwanted fish and even birds! It is only done by “Artisan” fishermen” especially in Grenada, so it is hard to legislate. We try to protect the Fishing Industry for the sustained use of those persons, and there are many of them,eh; at the same time they claim that they have to eat and feed their families!!.
If it can be banned, that would be Great!!, especially if the local fishermen don’t use that method. To combat that problem, we introduced The Fish Aggregate Device (FAD). It is a system of catching the same type of fish without destroying others.”
Maybe we could learn something from them
*cough* BdaSun *cough* Wednesday, February 04, 2009 *socugh* We’re opposed to longline fishing in BDA: here’s why… *cough* By Jennifer Gray, Exec. director, BDA National Trust *cough*
Mr Bean response is more politcally motiveted then the many organizatin that have been against this metohd of fishing Bermuda’s waters.
I grew tired of the distractions.
If you are genuinely concerned about industrial fishing and longlining, do not eat another tuna sandwich and do not eat sushi ever again – unless the fish comes from a certified sustainable source such as a troll or pole and line fishery – rare in Bermuda. In particular, do not eat Geisha tuna, which is imported from countries which have the lowest standards for fishing practices. Oh – and no more codfish and potatoes or fishcakes either – cod are seriously overfished. Do a little research on best practices for fishing and you might be surprised – properly conducted longlining is considered the least damaging of industrial fishing techniques. BTW 1) we have no trawling in our offshore waters – they are too deep; 2) FADs are not a cure-all, and often result in the capture of lots of undersized / very young fish which seek them out for shelter / “protection”.
Please provide information to backup your claims. A general look provides allot of contry data.
I will agree that small scale longline fishing is not dmaging but commercial is.