Jet skis operated by Royal Caribbean Cruise Ltd. are driving Berry Islands fishermen farther away from profits -- with the activity depleting the natural conch bed they rely on. The situation has led those who depend on fishing - one of the biggest sources of employment in the islands - to move beyond their usual spots to feed themselves and their families.

"When I came here, the conch bed had a tremendous amount of conch," said Captain Antonio Roberts.  

"What is happening now is they are trafficking a lot of their jet skis back and forth, so the conch is moving [and] that means now we have to go further and further for the conch [because] even the young ones [on] the jet skis are killing them.

"It has become a problem for us."

Roberts is shocked that the situation has been allowed to go on unchecked for the length of time it has.  He suspects there will only be enough conch resources left in the area for another five years. He's hoping some kind of regulations are implemented to stop this outcome before it happens.  It comes as poaching by tourists is on the rise in the islands, where many fishermen say regular policing is an issue.

In many instances, Roberts said the visitors carry back with them fish and lobster that far exceeds the limit they are allowed to take out of the country, with a blatant disregard to regulations protecting the industry for Bahamian fishermen.  The law states that certain methods, such as bone fishing, are protected industries that can only be done with a trained Bahamian.

The problems are acknowledged by the Bahamas Marine Exporters Association and the Department of Marine Resources  in a recent seminar.  However, the fishermen say nothing significant has happened to change the problems affecting their livelihood.
Guardian Business calls to the Minister responsible for Marine Resources, Larry Cartwright, as well as the Director of Agriculture, have gone unanswered for several days. In the meantime, Roberts and other fishermen in the islands await answers.

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