Dear Sir,

Surprise, surprise, the review panel has recommended further talks with fishermen, which we all know is to grant concessions so that commercial fishermen can continue to fish out the declining stock of black groupers.

Fishermen continue to tell people there are plenty of black grouper out there, but they are now very rarely seen anywhere that is diveable within Bermuda’s waters, including all of the south shore and the lagoon. You published one of my photos of a black grouper in the article on November 19, but I would now not be able to take this photo as my subjects have disappeared.

Everyone is in favour of protection and enforcement, but the recommendation to restrict recreational fishermen from fishing these and other fish in the grouper family through licences and bag/size limits — probably eventually stop as grouper numbers continue to decline — is supported by commercial fishermen because they want to restrict the scarce fish population to themselves.

You know when the Bermuda Blue Prosperity Plan process commenced, I and many others were very disappointed that the percentage was cut down to 20 per cent from 30 per cent.

For the information of persons new to the plan, implementation of 30 per cent no-fishing zones has been very successful throughout the world, and everyone including commercial fishermen in these jurisdictions have been frankly astonished at the success — so much so that they act as rangers to protect the waters. The goal is to identify and protect areas with excellent diversity and nurseries so that species may recover and thrive. As a result, the species spill out into non-protected areas and provide fishermen, divers and others with a good living or recreation. It is vitally important that the zones are correctly established so that species are properly protected. There is no point in choosing areas where species are already fished out.

So we already have cut down the percentage to 20 per cent, which is disappointing and of course will be less successful than a 30 per cent zoning. Now we are talking about concessions to fishermen, which frankly will water down the plan even more with even less success.

When the 20 per cent was proposed, I talked to scientists/marine experts who work for the Government, and they were really disappointed it was not 30 per cent, but were forbidden as employees to comment on the process or indeed anything “political”. They must be devastated that the limited BBPP proposals are to be watered down.

In case you think I have it in for commercial fishermen, I would like to draw attention to the plight of the hogfish — once plentiful but also rarely seen, as they have been overfished by recreational free divers. When chased, they turn sideways to show their size as a means of deterring predators and then they make a great target. I would also like to take the opportunity to congratulate the avid lionfish divers, who are trying to protect our smaller species and encourage spearfishermen to convert to this — it can be great fun and provide a tasty meal.

So the Government and home affairs minister Walter Roban, in particular, are you about to put in place a truly ineffective watered-down plan and be remembered as the government that oversaw the complete decline and probable eradication of grouper fishery? Or do you want to be remembered as the government and minister that protected the fishery for the future?

RON LUCAS

Smith’s