- Thread starter MikeFisher
- Start date
Free the Fishermen!!!
Milosh, they been on several Boats, at least 2, maybe more.
I don't think they fished that far NW around Nuevo Providenciales/New Providence, Nassau/New Providence is only mentioned as the Capital City and the Place where they are Imprisioned.
I would guess, but just My Guess of course, that they fished their usual waters which neighbour directly the SE'ern Border of the Bahamas Waters.
neither do I know how far they been in neighbour waters when chased down, it is not uncommon that Boats from both sides crisscros a bit the lines, by aceptable small distances of course.
we had quiet some rough waters up there by the time of the incident, I don't know how modern those Boats are equipped, so there may be a possibility tat they drifted over the wrong side simply accidentally.
but |I don't know those mentioned specific boats, so I don't know for what they fish and how hard of a "Competition" there is up north between DR and Bahamas Fishery, I never informed myself about such.
here on the East our small commercial Fleet sticks to the waters marked as DR Territory, respecting the Puerto Rican Side of the Channel, and of course the Mona Channel also is due Drugs and Human Ytafficking highly Observated by Authorities on both sides of the channel, so the Fishermen here would not have much chances to enter neighbour Territory without beeing Detected right away, we have Navy Boats and Airfoce suveillance scanning out there almost constantly.
as far as Ourselfes as Sportfishermen, we share the grounds with the Sportfishing Boats from Puerto Rico, depending on Seasons, We each fish on Neighbour's Soil, no territorial Fights on that.
Conchman is from there up North,
He may have Facts/Info about the Fishing there and the Vessels/Sizes etc.
Mike
I don't think they fished that far NW around Nuevo Providenciales/New Providence, Nassau/New Providence is only mentioned as the Capital City and the Place where they are Imprisioned.
I would guess, but just My Guess of course, that they fished their usual waters which neighbour directly the SE'ern Border of the Bahamas Waters.
neither do I know how far they been in neighbour waters when chased down, it is not uncommon that Boats from both sides crisscros a bit the lines, by aceptable small distances of course.
we had quiet some rough waters up there by the time of the incident, I don't know how modern those Boats are equipped, so there may be a possibility tat they drifted over the wrong side simply accidentally.
but |I don't know those mentioned specific boats, so I don't know for what they fish and how hard of a "Competition" there is up north between DR and Bahamas Fishery, I never informed myself about such.
here on the East our small commercial Fleet sticks to the waters marked as DR Territory, respecting the Puerto Rican Side of the Channel, and of course the Mona Channel also is due Drugs and Human Ytafficking highly Observated by Authorities on both sides of the channel, so the Fishermen here would not have much chances to enter neighbour Territory without beeing Detected right away, we have Navy Boats and Airfoce suveillance scanning out there almost constantly.
as far as Ourselfes as Sportfishermen, we share the grounds with the Sportfishing Boats from Puerto Rico, depending on Seasons, We each fish on Neighbour's Soil, no territorial Fights on that.
Conchman is from there up North,
He may have Facts/Info about the Fishing there and the Vessels/Sizes etc.
Mike
Way to many people for two simple fishing boats from the DR...
A normal trawler is operated by a crew of 15-20 fishermen... never seen a big trawler in the Peurto Plata harbour so I assume a crew of 15 for each vessel would do.. that means 40 men overload... no one takes extra people for no purpose as these trips are not pleasure cruises...
Sounds like a Yola scheme to me... Tu sueno se hecha realidad...what do you say Crodolio?
A normal trawler is operated by a crew of 15-20 fishermen... never seen a big trawler in the Peurto Plata harbour so I assume a crew of 15 for each vessel would do.. that means 40 men overload... no one takes extra people for no purpose as these trips are not pleasure cruises...
Sounds like a Yola scheme to me... Tu sueno se hecha realidad...what do you say Crodolio?
that's also a point that came to My mind reading the article,
if it is only 2 Trawlers the numer 70 is far too High and would sound suspicious.
also suspicious that the Boatowner did not take any activity to get His Boats back.
on the other Hand, why would the Authorities up there offer to release them for "Ransom Money" if considered Boatpeople?
the Story leaks some Facts to get a clearer picture, it could be anything.
we have actions in case of Boatpeople here on weekly bases, they get caught somewhere between here and PR and right away the Authorities are on the Phone to communicate with each others, they send Fotos of the caught People and the Boat etc right away, they often come out of My printer when the Headquarters aside my House is out of Ink as usual. but this article states that they are missing since 2 weeks, that is not a usual Timeperiod, something with that story sound's Fishy. on the Other Hand, for a Yola Sheme I would have awaited Tripple of that Number of People per Boat at least, also they may have ''set off'' some before they got caught.
Dominican Authorities are Patrouling their Wates, at least here on the Eastshores, we have a armored Navy Speedboat, the Coastguard run's several smaller Speedboats for the close to shore Waters, we have a Highpowerd Highspeed running Interception Boat for the DNCD to hold up with the Nracotrafficks Raceboats and we get Positions/Data from a Marine Helicopter which is in the Air every Night all Night long.
and the Channel is also covered by Puerto Rican Navy Boats, big Ones with Speedboats for Interceptions on Board and Planes for the observations from the Air. Once You leave the nearshore Waters on the East You are in a interesting Warzone, Each Sportfishing Boat get's checked offshore once in a while by the PR Warships, a PITAzz for Customers on such Charter, but of course a appreciated necessary Security of Our Homefishing Grounds against the Boatpeople who steel our Speedboats for their Trips and against the Narcos pendling between the Islands, so we don't complain about the Checks.
Mike
if it is only 2 Trawlers the numer 70 is far too High and would sound suspicious.
also suspicious that the Boatowner did not take any activity to get His Boats back.
on the other Hand, why would the Authorities up there offer to release them for "Ransom Money" if considered Boatpeople?
the Story leaks some Facts to get a clearer picture, it could be anything.
we have actions in case of Boatpeople here on weekly bases, they get caught somewhere between here and PR and right away the Authorities are on the Phone to communicate with each others, they send Fotos of the caught People and the Boat etc right away, they often come out of My printer when the Headquarters aside my House is out of Ink as usual. but this article states that they are missing since 2 weeks, that is not a usual Timeperiod, something with that story sound's Fishy. on the Other Hand, for a Yola Sheme I would have awaited Tripple of that Number of People per Boat at least, also they may have ''set off'' some before they got caught.
Dominican Authorities are Patrouling their Wates, at least here on the Eastshores, we have a armored Navy Speedboat, the Coastguard run's several smaller Speedboats for the close to shore Waters, we have a Highpowerd Highspeed running Interception Boat for the DNCD to hold up with the Nracotrafficks Raceboats and we get Positions/Data from a Marine Helicopter which is in the Air every Night all Night long.
and the Channel is also covered by Puerto Rican Navy Boats, big Ones with Speedboats for Interceptions on Board and Planes for the observations from the Air. Once You leave the nearshore Waters on the East You are in a interesting Warzone, Each Sportfishing Boat get's checked offshore once in a while by the PR Warships, a PITAzz for Customers on such Charter, but of course a appreciated necessary Security of Our Homefishing Grounds against the Boatpeople who steel our Speedboats for their Trips and against the Narcos pendling between the Islands, so we don't complain about the Checks.
Mike
arrested
If they were lobstering the number of people involved sounds correct. They fish out of small boats diving up and spearing the lobster from under the condos.
The mother ship is just home to them and a place to store the little boats and transport the catch. Also possible they were transporting illegals. Either way its a commercial operation. The boat is gone as they are always seized. The $2800 to get out of a Bahamian jail is cheap to me. Of course you must have the money and these guys are poor. Saddest of all is the rate at which the fishery resources of this area are being depleted. In times past it was a fish paradise. In those days it was the Cubans who were the main poachers. Added to all the current problems is the Lionfish invasion which is quickly depleting the reef areas of the juvenile snappers and groupers. I remember diving the Gingerbread grounds years ago and the amount of desirable food fish was hard to believe. The future looks grim here especially when you add into the mix the corrupt Bahamian government who also appears incompetent.
If they were lobstering the number of people involved sounds correct. They fish out of small boats diving up and spearing the lobster from under the condos.
The mother ship is just home to them and a place to store the little boats and transport the catch. Also possible they were transporting illegals. Either way its a commercial operation. The boat is gone as they are always seized. The $2800 to get out of a Bahamian jail is cheap to me. Of course you must have the money and these guys are poor. Saddest of all is the rate at which the fishery resources of this area are being depleted. In times past it was a fish paradise. In those days it was the Cubans who were the main poachers. Added to all the current problems is the Lionfish invasion which is quickly depleting the reef areas of the juvenile snappers and groupers. I remember diving the Gingerbread grounds years ago and the amount of desirable food fish was hard to believe. The future looks grim here especially when you add into the mix the corrupt Bahamian government who also appears incompetent.
Free the fishermen?????
Not sure if I'm missing something here.....after reading both the article and posts it seems a general consencus that these guys are obviously up to something no good.......why free them?
Now we went from fishing to smuggling drugs ?....oh hum
Not sure if I'm missing something here.....after reading both the article and posts it seems a general consencus that these guys are obviously up to something no good.......why free them?
Now we went from fishing to smuggling drugs ?....oh hum
there's no mentioning of Drugs or such in relation to the 70 Fishermen.
and for Narcos such group would be much too many People.
the Point to Free them is simply that they are only accused for Violating Territorial Fishing Grounds/Waters of the Bahamas and they are held in Custody for a long while without beeing shown to a Judge or what so ever.
that sounds like Pirate Rules up there at the Bahamas.
Mike
Does the DR have size/limit/season
to protect a sustainable fisheries?
irate:
From The Tribune;
"The Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) with the assistance of the United States Coast Guard, captured the vessel off Columbus Bank, east of Ragged Island in the southeast Bahamas, arresting a crew of 33 Dominican men.
Inspector Ramsey of the Potters Cay Police Station said nine small boats were confiscated with the main vessel, in addition to nine spear guns, crawfish hooks, boat engines (15 horse power) and compressors. No illegal weapons were found on board"
The Tribune
COLUMBUS BANK RAGGED ISLAND BAHAMAS Geography Population Map cities coordinates location - Tageo.com
The Bahamas' Exclusive Economic Zone;
EEZ Waters Of Bahamas
Let the fishermen go free, send the Captain to navigation school and send the owner of the boats a note saying "thanks for the boats"!
to protect a sustainable fisheries?
irate:From The Tribune;
"The Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) with the assistance of the United States Coast Guard, captured the vessel off Columbus Bank, east of Ragged Island in the southeast Bahamas, arresting a crew of 33 Dominican men.
Inspector Ramsey of the Potters Cay Police Station said nine small boats were confiscated with the main vessel, in addition to nine spear guns, crawfish hooks, boat engines (15 horse power) and compressors. No illegal weapons were found on board"
The Tribune
COLUMBUS BANK RAGGED ISLAND BAHAMAS Geography Population Map cities coordinates location - Tageo.com
The Bahamas' Exclusive Economic Zone;
EEZ Waters Of Bahamas
Let the fishermen go free, send the Captain to navigation school and send the owner of the boats a note saying "thanks for the boats"!
to protect a sustainable fisheries?
From The Tribune;
"The Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) with the assistance of the United States Coast Guard, captured the vessel off Columbus Bank, east of Ragged Island in the southeast Bahamas, arresting a crew of 33 Dominican men.
Inspector Ramsey of the Potters Cay Police Station said nine small boats were confiscated with the main vessel, in addition to nine spear guns, crawfish hooks, boat engines (15 horse power) and compressors. No illegal weapons were found on board"
The Tribune
COLUMBUS BANK RAGGED ISLAND BAHAMAS Geography Population Map cities coordinates location - Tageo.com
The Bahamas' Exclusive Economic Zone;
EEZ Waters Of Bahamas
Let the fishermen go free, send the Captain to navigation school and send the owner of the boats a note saying "thanks for the boats"!
thanks for Info and Link,
here it shows up much clearer than just the short message of the first articles.
so they fished the Greater Bahaman Bank,
and they took a large amount of undersized spezies,
in such case I completely agree to Seize the Boats and take the Captain in Custody unless the appropriate Fine is paid, the Article states that the Crews will be deported, all that sounds like the usual procedures in such cases, the Families have no reason to complain. Deportations here in the Country often take months to finally take place and always somebody has to sign for the costs of the Deportation. the Owner of the Fleet should be taken responsible for the costs here in the DR.
Happy Holidays
Mike
Freedom
The Captain knew exactly where he was. Captains that do not know where they are do not catch fish or in this case lobster. They were illegally lobstering in a foreign countries waters and got caught. The only victims here who deserve sympathy are the fishermen who dive up the lobster. They are too poor to make bail and will sit in a filthy Bahamian prison for a long time. There is so much profit in these operations that a couple of trips will pay the overhead and the rest is profit. Normally the Captains of these boats have enough cash on hand to make a deal with the Bahamian patrol boats so that they look the other way. Illegal fishing in the Bahamas and adjacent waters is a big ongoing business. As regards "sustainable catch limits" the Bahamian government threw that out the window when they leased out the waters to a fleet of fish trap boats about ten years ago. Sadly the Bahamas has failed to manage its wonderful fish and lobster resources and its being depleted at a rapid rate. Its a unique area and its sad that its resources are being depleted so quickly. Some of the most spectacular diving and fishing in the world but not for long.
The Captain knew exactly where he was. Captains that do not know where they are do not catch fish or in this case lobster. They were illegally lobstering in a foreign countries waters and got caught. The only victims here who deserve sympathy are the fishermen who dive up the lobster. They are too poor to make bail and will sit in a filthy Bahamian prison for a long time. There is so much profit in these operations that a couple of trips will pay the overhead and the rest is profit. Normally the Captains of these boats have enough cash on hand to make a deal with the Bahamian patrol boats so that they look the other way. Illegal fishing in the Bahamas and adjacent waters is a big ongoing business. As regards "sustainable catch limits" the Bahamian government threw that out the window when they leased out the waters to a fleet of fish trap boats about ten years ago. Sadly the Bahamas has failed to manage its wonderful fish and lobster resources and its being depleted at a rapid rate. Its a unique area and its sad that its resources are being depleted so quickly. Some of the most spectacular diving and fishing in the world but not for long.
You're welcome!
I agreee. How is it that they don't venture into Cuban or Puerto Rican waters too often?
Happy Holidays!
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34557194@N07/5280449546/" title="XmasYacht by socuban, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5049/5280449546_9e18d81441.jpg" width="500" height="358" alt="XmasYacht" /></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34557194@N07/5280449546/" title="XmasYacht by socuban, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5049/5280449546_9e18d81441.jpg" width="500" height="358" alt="XmasYacht" /></a>
ha ha,
that's of course right,
and Yes, they venture into there, too, and of course willingly.
No Owner of a Trawler/Fleet would leave His swimming Money into the Hands of a Nuthead who doesn't know where to Fish or Where He Is at any given Time out on Sea, lol.
and of course the Owner also knows where they fish, he "Orders" them to fish exactly there.
Mike
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Cuban navy would pick them up pretty fast, detain all aboard for quite a while... what's theirs is theirs and they have the army to protect it..
Any smuggling/poaching there is done by Cubans only...
Any smuggling/poaching there is done by Cubans only...
Cuban Air Force
About 20 years ago the Bahamian Expeditionary Forces seized a large Cuban boat for fishing in Bahamian waters. Apparently they radioed home and Cuba scrambled a Mig that fired warning shots at the BEF who promptly let the Cuban fishing vessel go free. For years Cuba poached the Bahamian waters at will and without interference. Its a big temptation to poach as fish is worth so much. These days the US uses the Lacy Act against Americans who bring back commercial quantities of fish into the US. They take your boat and charge you with a felony.
About 20 years ago the Bahamian Expeditionary Forces seized a large Cuban boat for fishing in Bahamian waters. Apparently they radioed home and Cuba scrambled a Mig that fired warning shots at the BEF who promptly let the Cuban fishing vessel go free. For years Cuba poached the Bahamian waters at will and without interference. Its a big temptation to poach as fish is worth so much. These days the US uses the Lacy Act against Americans who bring back commercial quantities of fish into the US. They take your boat and charge you with a felony.
Here they come.......
Manuel Gilbert
Puerto Plata
Retornaron ayer a esta ciudad en un vuelo charter de la l?nea a?rea Fine Apple procedente de Nassau, 17 del grupo de 62 pescadores dominicanos que fueron condenados por las autoridades judiciales de Las Bahamas, por violar los l?mites de sus aguas territoriales.
La llegada de los pescadores liberados se produjo a las 11:00 de la ma?ana por el Aeropuerto Gregorio Luper?n, tras gestiones realizadas por los empresarios Heriberto De Le?n y Jos? Bienvenido N??ez, propietarios de las embarcaciones ?Capit?n Alfred? y ?Mitaud Dos?, donde fueron apresados.
Para lograr la libertad de los pescadores, De Le?n y N??ez pagaron fianzas de 500 d?lares que les impusieron a cada uno las autoridades judiciales de Las Bahamas. En la embarcaci?n ?Capit?n Alfred? viajaban 40 pescadores y los 21 restantes en el ?Mitaud Dos?.
Llegan 17 de los 62 pescadores presos - List?n Diario Digital
Manuel Gilbert
Puerto Plata
Retornaron ayer a esta ciudad en un vuelo charter de la l?nea a?rea Fine Apple procedente de Nassau, 17 del grupo de 62 pescadores dominicanos que fueron condenados por las autoridades judiciales de Las Bahamas, por violar los l?mites de sus aguas territoriales.
La llegada de los pescadores liberados se produjo a las 11:00 de la ma?ana por el Aeropuerto Gregorio Luper?n, tras gestiones realizadas por los empresarios Heriberto De Le?n y Jos? Bienvenido N??ez, propietarios de las embarcaciones ?Capit?n Alfred? y ?Mitaud Dos?, donde fueron apresados.
Para lograr la libertad de los pescadores, De Le?n y N??ez pagaron fianzas de 500 d?lares que les impusieron a cada uno las autoridades judiciales de Las Bahamas. En la embarcaci?n ?Capit?n Alfred? viajaban 40 pescadores y los 21 restantes en el ?Mitaud Dos?.
Llegan 17 de los 62 pescadores presos - List?n Diario Digital
Poaching is a crime and the fishermen took a risk by taking the job. I've heard horror stories of Haitians being hired to catch lobsters in the Turks and Caicos Islands where only licensed local fishermen can catch them free-diving. The poachers put the Haitians in weighted suits with an air hose so they can stay down for long periods of time at depth. But when they think patrol boats have found them, the people up top simply cut the air hose in order to get away quicker. This leaves the Haitian at the bottom of the ocean with no air supply. In order to survive, the poor guy has to get rid of his weights and make it to the surface pretty quick. Something to think about next time you have some lobster.
There wouldn't be a need for strong poaching laws if there was effective management back in the DR. This is a lot easier said than done.
There wouldn't be a need for strong poaching laws if there was effective management back in the DR. This is a lot easier said than done.
WARNING SHOTS? the Bahamian defense force vessel was sunk and 4 marines lost their lives.
There is no way you cannot know you are in Bahamian waters, because you go north from the DR and cross the deep water after driving for 15 hours, when you reach shallow water its The Bahamas (or Turks and Caicos). Just look at a map.