Dear Editor,
Amandala’s November 8, 2009 edition contained an extensive letter to the Editor condemning a purported move by the Minister of Fisheries to table legislation outlawing gill nets.
If the Minister of Fisheries tables such legislation, he will have earned the praise and thanks of all Belizeans, particularly those who fish commercially for a living.
Gill net fishing is the major reason for the destruction of Belize’s fisheries and the resulting damage to Belize’s economy. Ninety percent (90%) of all gill netters are Guatemalans or Hondurans who invade Belize’s waters. The continued use of gill nets will render Belize’s new catch-and-release law that is designed to protect certain species of fish, useless and of no effect.
Gill netters set their long nets in the paths of migrating fish, catching permits, tarpon, and bonefish that are protected by Belize’s catch-and-release law. The gill netters who fish for sharks let the permits, tarpon, and bonefish rot in the nets to attract sharks to the nets. Others clean and salt the permits, tarpon and bonefish and ship them to Guatemala.
The nets do not discriminate between different types of sea life. The nets snare and drown all species, including bottle-nosed dolphin and sea turtles.
The Gulf Coast States of Texas, Louisiana, Georgia and Florida banned gill nets in their entity. Texas banned gill nets in 1988 due to concerns about the dwindling population of red drum and spotted sea trout in the Gulf of Mexico. Since then the fish species have come roaring back, and Texas now boasts of a one-billion dollar sport fishing industry. Florida has seen a rebound in stripped mullet and sea trout since 1995 when voters banned gill nets.
With the banning of net fishing Belize can also have a billion dollar recreational fishing industry that provides employment for thousands of tour guides and boat operators.
The use of gill nets is also destructive to the commercial fishing industry. Continued use of gill nets will result in the depletion of fish, to the point where even the gill netters cannot make a living.
If Belize’s fishing is limited to hook-and-line there will not be a further depletion of fish in Belizean waters. The species will rebound, providing good fishing and income to the country for the years to come.
Gill netters are cheating their own children of their birthright. If gill netting continues, when the children grow up, there will be no fishing of consequence available to them.
Kenneth Gale