NASSAU, Bahamas - The Bahamas will have to keep up with international standards if it wants to maintain its place as the fifth largest exporter of crawfish tails in the world, according to a local retailer.
Stores in the United States and Europe are showing increasing interest in seafood products certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). The MSC only grants use of its increasingly recognized label to seafood products when all industry stakeholders have met their standards. That includes fishermen, processors, retailers, exporters, regulators and even consumers.
The label is applied to fresh, canned and prepared seafood; more than 2,500 products worldwide.
The intent behind the MSC's certification program is to encourage governments, private sector companies, consumers and all stakeholders to embrace sustainable practices, such as documenting fish populations, implementing management plans, enforcing catch size limits, and respecting season bans. The Bahamas is not one of the certified countries.
Jon Chaiton, director of Quality Assurance at Tropic Seafood, one of the country's largest crawfish exporters, told The Tribune that it would be difficult to compete without the MSC label as the international demand for certification increases.
"We were issued a notice from buyers in Europe and the US that they are participating in these programmes that they have a choice to buy all over the world, which means we have to read between the lines," Chaiton said. They are adopting the MSC standards and they have a choice. We better get in the game and become MSC compliant and have a fishery that is sustainable and proven to be sustainable."
In 2008, The Bahamas exported 4.5 million pounds. The fishing industry is the third largest income producer in the Bahamas behind tourism and the financial sector.
Minister of Agriculture Larry Cartwright said the government is considering the certification process and that local stakeholders are "more than willing to assist to defer the financial burden of the Bahamas being MSC certified."
Cartrwright said the process would be tedious but necessary. "Most definitely if we do not become MSC certified the industry will be impacted in a negative way. When we become MSC certified it will allow us to operate as normal," said Mr. Cartwright.
Read more in The Tribune here.
Local Retailer says Crawfish Industry could be in Danger
The Bahamas will have to keep up with international standards if it wants to maintain its place as the fifth largest exporter of crawfish tails in the world, according to a local retailer.
Stores in the United States and Europe are showing increasing interest in seafood products certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). The MSC only grants use of its increasingly recognized label to seafood products when all industry stakeholders have met their standards. That includes fishermen, processors, retailers, exporters, regulators and even consumers.
The intent behind the MSC's certification program is to encourage governments, private sector companies, consumers and all stakeholders to embrace sustainable practices, such as documenting fish populations, implementing management plans, enforcing catch size limits, and respecting season bans. The Bahamas is not one of the certified countries.
Jon Chaiton, director of Quality Assurance at Tropic Seafood, one of the country's largest crawfish exporters, told The Tribune that it would be difficult to compete without the MSC label as the international demand for certification increases.
"We were issued a notice from buyers in Europe and the US that they are participating in these programmes that they have a choice to buy all over the world, which means we have to read between the lines," Chaiton said. They are adopting the MSC standards and they have a choice. We better get in the game and become MSC compliant and have a fishery that is sustainable and proven to be sustainable."
In 2008, The Bahamas exported 4.5 million pounds. The fishing industry is the third largest income producer in the Bahamas behind tourism and the financial sector.
Minister of Agriculture Larry Cartwright said the government is considering the certification process and that local stakeholders are "more than willing to assist to defer the financial burden of the Bahamas being MSC certified."
Cartrwright said the process would be tedious but necessary. "Most definitely if we do not become MSC certified the industry will be impacted in a negative way. When we become MSC certified it will allow us to operate as normal," said Mr. Cartwright.
Read more in The Tribune here.
he said the pro
The government is looking favourably to facilitate the certification process, but Lawrence Cartwright, Minister of Agriculture and marine Resources, said it is going to be a tedious process to get the country where it needs to be.
"The process is still in the discussion stage. The Government has not made a fixed decision. The stakeholders are more than willing to assist to defer the financial burden of the Bahamas being MSC certified," he said.
Lionfish Problem gets $300,000 Boost
A Caribbean project to deal with invasive plants and animals means the Bahamas will spend four years and $300,000 towards the lionfish population in Bahamian waters.
The project was launched last October in New Kingston, Jamaica and includes The Dominican Republic, Jamaica, St. Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago.
Agriculture Minister Larry Cartwright said each country would concentrate on the species most important to them.
Referring to one of The Bahamas' top priorities, the Minister said, "The lionfish is likely to always be with us as there seems little likelihood that this species can be eradicated from the waters of The Bahamas."
Most of the funding for the project will come from the United Nations Environment Program.
Read more in the Nassau Guardian's story here.
Michael Braynen,
address invasive species in their waters
Good weather and good spirits made for family fun at last Sunday's Soccer for Haiti event.
There were two soccer games, t-shirts and lots of games and prizes. Children could get their country painted on their face or prove their skills in the dribbling, shooting and juggling competitions.
The first game between Jamaica and the Rest of The World ended in a 1-1 draw. The second, Bahamas XI v Haiti XI nearly ended the same but went to penalties to decide a winner - Bahamas XI 5
Haiti XI 6.
Families and
Final Scores..
Jamaica XI 1 v Rest Of The World XI 1
A draw..
Bahamas XI 0 v Haiti XI 0
Game went to penalties to decide a winner
Bahamas XI 5
Haiti XI 6
Candidates include:
Rodney Moncur
Taxi Driver
Heritage Road, Black Village
Total Assets $220,286,000
Total Income $615
Total Liabilities $67,400
Net Worth $152,886
Leo Ryan Pinder, Lawyer from Sandyport
Total Assets $1,158,395
Total Income $220,000
Total Liabilities $726,367
Net Worth $432,028
Andre S Rollins, Orthodontist from Est Bay Street
Total Assets $950,450
Total Income $80,000
Total Liabilities $807.700
Net Worth $142,750
Duane Ernest Sands a surgeon from East Bay Street
Total Assets $8,465,000
Total Income $513,000
Total Liabilities 1,680,000
Net Worth 6,785,000
Cassius Vida Stuart, Bussiness Consultant, Garden Hills
Total Assets $1,195,000
Total Income $143,000
Total Liabilities $179,000
Net Worth $1,159,000
Travolta Extortion Trial Starts in September
The trial of the Senator and Paramedic accused of trying to extort $25 million from actor John Travolta will begin in September this year. Last week the court set the date of the new trial for September 16.
The trial is connected to Travolta's 16-year-old son, Jett, who died after a seizure at his family's vacation home in Grand Bahama. Progressive Liberal Party senator, Pleasant Bridgewater, and paramedic Tarino Lightbourne are accused of trying to sell stories to the media about the incident unless they were given $25 million.
The new trial date is nearly a year after the court declared a mistrial because Member of Parliament Pricewell Forbes announced that the accused senator Pleasant Bridgewater had been found not guilty before the verdict was announced. Forbes made the statement during a televised speech at the PLP's convention.
Forbes did not say where he got the information though his attorney said he was repeating a rumor.
During last week's proceedings, Tarino told the court he would not be able to afford a lawyer for the second trial. Judge Jon Isaacs is considering approving a stipend for Lightbourne's former attorney to cover his costs during the proceedings.
Bridgewater's attorney, Murrio Ducille, told reporters that there was no case against his client and that he planned to use the same defense he had used during the first trial.
John Travolta
September 16th
Employees at the Water and Sewerage Corporation donated $6,800 for relief efforts in Haiti and don't intend to stop there.
The donation will be used by the Bahamas Red Cross Society to transport water to Port-Au-Prince, Haiti's capital.
“Collecting items is one thing, but getting them there is another expense," said Caroline Turnquest, director general of The Bahamas Red Cross Society.
Ms. Turnquest was speaking at a press conference on January 28th to announce the donation.
Mynez Sherman, Employee Relations Manager at the Water and Sewerage Corporation said, “I can say the WSC employees are a compassionate group and we did the same for Freeport when it was damaged by the hurricane.
Ms. Sherman said the average donation was about $15 each. “We felt for the people in Haiti. We knew our barge could not do it; we saw the need to take up some funds.
“This is a long term situation for Haiti and as things develop, we will see how else we can help,” Ms. Sherman said.
From left: Paul McPhee, Clerk 1; Yamel Marshall, Administrative Secretary; Daphne Simmons SRAGM/HR; Patricia Archer, Senior Clerk; Caroline Turnquest, Director General, The Bahamas Red Cross; Jennifer Smith, Senior Supervisor HR; Mynez Sherman, Employee Relation Manager; Grace Darling, Human Resource Manager; Petra Burrows, Administrative Secretary; and Calvent Stevens, Clerical Officer. (BIS photo/Raymond A Bethel)
