Bahamas News

Waterkeepers Bahamas Urges Government Not to Shorten Closed Season for Grouper

Published

7 years ago

October 6, 2017

#Bahamas, October 6, 2017 – Nassau – Waterkeepers Bahamas today expressed alarm over government’s announcement it was considering a plan to shorten the closed season for Nassau grouper, a critically endangered species already threatened by over-fishing and climate change.

“The Bahamas is one of the few places in the world where the Nassau grouper still survives,” said Waterkeepers Bahamas Executive Director Rashema Ingraham. “The species is on the IUCN Red list because it is critically endangered. It has been wiped out by overexploitation in far too many places where it was once plentiful and one of the reasons that it survives in The Bahamas despite fishing to satisfy the daily consumption demand is because there is a closed season that allows adult grouper to aggregate, spawn and reproduce. Without that legislated ‘safe’ time, we could be facing the same outcome resulting from mistakes other countries made and from which they are now trying to recover.”

Ingraham cites Cayman as an example. In 2016, after suffering a major reduction and near loss of its once prolific Nassau grouper, Cayman enacted sweeping legislation, including a closed season from December through April, limiting the take to five a day per vessel and restricting size to 16” – 24”. Florida has enacted a total ban of the harvesting of both the Nassau grouper and mammoth grouper, also known as Jewfish.

Ingraham also cites international authorities who have studied Nassau grouper and other marine life in The Bahamas.

“Dr. Craig Dahlgren, a marine ecologist who works with the Perry Institute of Marine Science, said the most recent studies from The Bahamas indicate the abundance of Nassau grouper has declined over the past two decades between 70% and 90% in several historical locations,” said Ingraham. She added that Dahlgren found only two of six documented spawning aggregation sites in Long Island still active. And The Bahamas is one of the few remaining places in the world with active aggregate spawning sites.

“In study after study, marine scientists and ecologists are finding the same thing – overfishing is the primary cause of decline of Nassau grouper worldwide, resulting in far more of the threat to survival of the species than natural disasters or marine environmental changes,” she said.

“Nassau grouper is the fish of The Bahamas. Ask any Bahamian what kind of fish he wants, ask any restaurant what the most popular fish is and the answer will invariably be grouper,” said Ingraham. “Imagine The Bahamas without Nassau grouper. That could very well be the case if we do not ensure a suitable closed season is enforced, a breathing space for the species and allow it to reproduce. Now, with climate change resulting in rising seas and warming sea temperatures threatening the health of coral reefs on which the grouper depends, the species is at even greater risk.”

Ingraham’s comments came on the heels of remarks by the Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources Renward Wells that the government was considering reducing the period of the closed season that now runs from the first of December through the end of February. The remarks drew immediate reaction from the Bahamas National Trust and others.

“In December of 2014 when the government instituted a fixed closed season rather than having to debate and set the policy every year, there was a great sigh of relief,” said Joe Darville, Chairman of Save The Bays and Grand Bahama Coastal Waterkeeper. “Organisations like the Moore Bahamas Foundation and BREEF rushed to thank the government for its foresight when that legislation was passed. It is hard to believe, in fact I had to read the headlines twice because I thought I must have misunderstood, that the government would now be thinking about moving backward when we were gaining. Just look at what is happening in the crawfish industry. Since the Defence Force has been patrolling the more remote southern islands with the Sandy Bottom Project, doing a good job keeping poachers at bay, and with the closed season that is harder to violate because of the stepped up patrols, the fishermen who go after crawfish are saying they are having the best season in years.”

Both Waterkeepers Bahamas and Save The Bays urge government to maintain the current fixed closed season and monitor the Nassau grouper population carefully, ready to act if the season has to be extended.

“The fishermen who are asking for a shorter closed season could soon be asking a different question if we do not give the Nassau grouper a chance to reproduce,” said Darville. “They could be asking ‘Where did all the fish go?’ Let us not be greedy now and sorry later.”

Press Release: DPA news

Photo credit: DPA news

Bahamas News

Get your laugh on, March On, family drama by Gea Pierre, debut this weekend in Turks and Caicos

Published

3 days ago

May 13, 2024

Shanieka

Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

After resounding success in the Bahamas, hit play ‘March On, The Story of Us’ has been inundated with requests to take their show on the road, and the first location they’ll be hitting is Providenciales Turks and Caicos with tickets on sale again this weekend, the show debuts Friday night.

Magnetic Media spoke to Gea Pierre, playwright, who told us the TCI was a natural first choice for the cast and crew where shows are set for Brayton Hall, for Friday May 10 at 8pm and Saturday has two showings; matinee at 4pm and evening, 8pm.

Tickets are $75 VIP. General admission is $60.

“We started ‘March On’ in November 2023 and it was really an opportunity for us to tell a story, the story of the Bahamas and to encompass the nations that we have an amazing relationship with like the Turks and Caicos,” she continued “We really got a lot of people calling [for the play] from [the TCI], so much so we really had to pay attentattention.

The response to ‘March On’ at home and abroad was overwhelming.

“To say it went well is an understatement, even before we opened we got calls from Canada, from all over the US with people wanting us to come and perform.”

And take the show on the road they did! Gea and her team have launched “March On: The Tour” and will be in Providenciales to perform on May 10th and 11th. It’s the first of a number of stops which include Nassau and several US locations.

Online tickets are available for purchase with credit cards. The full team returns on Friday, May 10 with the comedy production being held under the patronage of Washington Misick, TCI Premier and First Lady Delthia Misick.

Describing the close familial relationships between the TCI and the Bahamas, for many on the crew it will be like coming home Gea told us, for others it will be a treat to visit for the first time, the places that their grandparents described.

Gea maintained that the team wanted to keep the show as accessible to residents as possible.

As for why you should come out and see the play, other than the great price point:

“The way that people have responded to it is non stop laughter, people have been moved to tears because there’s some emotion. It does not only lend to Bahamians. It’s a family drama, and anyone who’s ever been a part of a family is going to get something out of it, and something moving.”

Bahamas News

The Bahamas Successfully Hosts Its Fourth World Athletics Relays

Published

5 days ago

May 12, 2024

Shanieka

NASSAU, Bahamas – Hundreds of people from around the world turned out in full force for the BTC World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24 that took place at the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium, May 4 -5, 2024.

This is the sixth edition of the relays and the fourth time that The Bahamas has hosted the event, which actually made its debut in The Bahamas in 2014.

President, World Athletics, Sabastian Coe said after three very successful editions from 2014 to 2017, the World Athletics Relays has quickly become one of the World Athletics vibrant competitions, developing a culture of fun and innovation that gives it a unique flavour.

He thanked the Bahamas Government, the local World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24 committee and the Bahamian people for agreeing to host the relays. However, his main thanks were to the “world’s best sprinters” travelling from all the continents to compete in preparation for the road to Paris, France, in two months’ time.

During the opening ceremony, the athletes were given words of advice from Carl Lewis, one of only four Olympic athletes to have won nine Olympic gold medals, who is widely recognized as one of the greatest athletes of all time.

He said, “Keep it simple, do not try to do anything extra. Do what your coaches said. Leave on time, leave on time, leave on time.”

The athletes and crowds were treated to the sounds and sights of Junkanoo at the end of the opening ceremony. The Junkanoo performers stuck around for the two days of competitions, playing for the sprinters as they competed on the track.

Teams competed in the Women’s and men’s 4x100m, and the women’s men’s and mixed 4x400m. A total of 14 teams at the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 24 automatically qualified for places at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Both days of competition were important, as day two offered another chance for qualifications for those teams unsuccessful on day one.

In fact, The Bahamas was able to take advantage of the second day of competition.

Bahamians were made proud as the country set a new national record during the mixed 4x400m relays thanks to the efforts of 16-year-old Shania Adderley, a student of Tabernacle Baptist Academy.

The team came first in their heat on Sunday evening after not being able to gain a spot for the Paris Olympics on the first day of competition.

Other sprinters on the team included Alonzo Russell, as well as Olympic champions Steven Gardiner and Shaunae Miller-Uibo.

(BIS Photos/Kemuel Stubbs)

Bahamas News

PM at World Relays 2024 Opening: ‘Tonight, the eyes are on The Bahamas’

Published

5 days ago

May 12, 2024

Shanieka

NASSAU, The Bahamas – During his remarks at the Opening Ceremony for the World Athletics Relays 2024, on May 4, Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Hon. Philip Davis welcomed the special guests, athletes, officials, and “all lovers of athletics from around the world” to the Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium here in the “vibrant heart” of Nassau, Bahamas.

“This weekend, the world’s finest athletes gather on our shores to embark on a journey that is not only about speed and strength but also about dreams and determination,” Prime Minister Davis said. “From the serene beauty of our islands to the historic grandeur of Paris, this event marks a crucial path to the Olympic Games in Paris 2024.”

He added: “Here in The Bahamas, we are no strangers to world-class athletics or the warmth and exuberance that such international gatherings bring. It is a distinct honor to once again welcome the World Athletics Relays back to our islands. This event holds a special place in our hearts, symbolizing a bridge between nations brought together by the universal language of sport.”

Prime Minister Davis noted that that year’s theme, “Paradise to Paris,” captured the essence of that journey.

“It is here, amidst the splendor of our sun-kissed beaches and the rhythmic sway of our palms that the chase towards Olympic glory begins anew,” he stated. “We are thrilled to offer a backdrop of unparalleled beauty, where every sprint, every baton pass, and every victory lap is set against the picture-perfect canvas of our islands.”

He added: “To our athletes, I say this: as you stand on the precipice of your dreams, ready to catapult yourself into the annals of history, know that you are part of a legacy of excellence and determination. This weekend, you are not only competitors but also ambassadors of your countries and the spirit of sport. We are especially proud of Team Bahamas, who carry the weight of their performance and the hopes and pride of our nation. You embody the spirit of The Bahamian people, and we are behind you every step of the way.”

Prime Minister said that to the international visitors, he extended “the warmest Bahamian welcome”.

“Over the next few days, as you revel in the thrill of competition, take a moment to bask in the beauty of our island,” he stated. “Discover why we proudly say, “It’s Better in The Bahamas.” Whether it’s the hospitality of our people, the tranquility of our waters, or the rhythm of our culture, you are in for an experience that captures the heart and rejuvenates the soul.”

“Let us celebrate the unity and friendship that sports foster, cheering every athlete and savoring the spectacle of human potential at its best,” Prime Minister Davis added. “I hope the races are swift, the results are inspiring, and the memories are lasting.

“Welcome to The Bahamas, the paradise where champions chase their dreams to Paris. As your host, it is my immense pleasure to declare the World Athletics Relays Bahamas 2024 officially open. Let the games begin.”