New tuna fishing venture by the Mellor brothers in Grand Bahamas has come under scanner as it threatens the fish population and the livelihood of local fishermen. It is said that this venture intends to deploy a large fishing vessel utilising a net mechanism to catch tuna for commercial sale internationally. The main concerns are:
1. The large scale harvesting of tuna using a mile-long net
2. The indiscriminate nature of wide-range net fishing
Bahamians and concerned people have expressed their anger over this saying that any large fishing operation will be detrimental to the existing fish stocks in the region, because it is anticipated that this operation will capture tuna faster than the stocks can naturally replenish themselves.
It has been found that such fishing has completely eliminated fish stocks and can drive specific fish species to the brink of extinction. Paul Mellor, one of the men involved in the venture, said that tuna stocks are at 96 percent and being managed by an international body called ICCAT the Atlantic Tuna stocks are in great shape and will continue to be in great shape for years to come because there are international bodies carefully keeping track of there stocks and regulating them when and if necessary.
But ICCAT’s study shows that the stocks are in devastated position brought by longline fishing is very well comparable to that inflicted by net-based commercial fishing. Sources close to the situation have said that a device designed to shred and dispose of non-tuna catch exists on-board the commercial fishing vessel, a charge which the Mellor partners deny.
