The Bahamas National Trust (BNT) noted the remarks of the Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources, the Honourable Michael Pintard, in The Nassau Guardian August 24th when he stated the intent of his Ministry and the Department of Marine Resources (DMR) to explore expanding commercial fishing to species such as tuna.

The BNT is aware that many pelagic species are already being fished daily in Bahamian waters and has not taken a position opposing Bahamian fishermen targeting these fish. What the BNT has raised with the Minister and DMR officials are concerns regarding the use of unsustainable and destructive methods. 

The BNT is aware that there are persons advocating for the amendment of Bahamas fishery legislation to allow for longline fishing. This practice is known around the world to have devastating effects on marine resources.

The BNT would not necessarily stand in opposition to commercial fishermen exploring the feasibility of developing sustainable pelagic fisheries, but we are emphatically opposed to the establishment of a long- line fishery within the Bahamian Economic Exclusive Zone. 

Longline fishing is the use of hook and line gear that can have thousands of baited hooks on lines which extend many kilometres (km) from the vessel.

Long lines can be used to fish Pelagics near the surface using floats, or near the bottom using weights; depending upon the targeted species.

Longlining has been responsible for the decimation of fisheries around the globe, resulting in huge amounts of waste, as sharks, marine mammals, seabirds, sea turtles, other non-targeted fish and juveniles end up on the line.

This fishing method may not destroy entire habitats when compared to destructive methods like bottom trawling (also known as dredging), but is deemed extremely wasteful and a significant contributor to the decline of marine resources generally. 

The Bahamas continues to benefit from a relatively healthy marine environment. The low population in the islands coupled with expansive shallow banks has provided food for remote communities; a medium-scale sustainable commercial fishing industry; and a playground for tourists, the bread and butter of the Bahamian economy.

The Bahamas could continue to enjoy these benefits in perpetuity because the country uses sustainable fishing methods. The use of the Hawaiian Sling, and fishing lines that do not exceed 10 hooks are very low impact, are extremely efficient and are not wasteful.

The way of life for Bahamian living in these islands may be changed forever if the government moves ahead with plans to open up the door to destructive mass production fishing methods.

The impacts from them may take many decades to see, but undoubtedly change will eventually be seen throughout the marine environment. 

There is a reason why Americans are travelling to The Bahamas to fish - in many cases, their fishing methods have exhausted their stocks and now they are looking to our waters for fishery resources!

Currently, many fishers are exploiting pelagic fish including red snappers (at least 5 different species), tunas (4 species), mahi-mahi, sailfish, blue marlin, white marlin and wahoo.

Although many of these fish are caught recreationally and in the sport fishing industry, some seem to be making it into a number of restaurants around the country and therefore are technically commercially exploited.

However, these activities are still sustainable as only one hook and one line are used, with the exception of the red snappers, where less than 10 hooks are used.

BNT wishes to note, however, that pelagic species often have very slow growth and low reproductive rates, and therefore caution needs to be exercised when targeting these species.

The BNT welcomes the idea of formalizing the commercial pelagic industry, but the BNT will strongly advise against reversing the hard-fought longline fishing ban, and other forms of unsustainable mass fishery production. Such destructive methods will destroy the livelihood of all Bahamians and completely undermine our sustainable future.



The BNT has raised with the Minister and DMR officials are concerns regarding the use of unsustainable and destructive methods. The BNT is aware that there are persons advocating for the amendment of Bahamas fishery legislation to allow for longline fishing. This practice is known around the world to have devastating effects on marine resources. (Photos courtesy of the BNT for Barefoot Marketing)