Dominican poachers who were arrested by Royal Bahamas Defense Force officials and the US Coast Guard this week were carrying some 30,000 pounds of illegally harvested marine products.
As reported by Tribune 242, on Wednesday, 13 November, 17 suspected poachers were arrested on board the 76-foot Gerchard II in waters near the Cochinos Bank.
The vessel contained a catch estimated at 30,000 pounds of reportedly illegally fished marine products thought to be worth more than US$250,000 in the Bahamian market and even more on the international market.
The Bahamas National Trust has described poaching by commercial fishermen from the Dominican Republic as “the greatest single threat to Bahamian seafood resources.”
It was previously announced that boats seized from Dominican poachers are being distributed to Bahamian fishermen affected by Hurricane Dorian. There are 36 vessels in total. Some vessels are expected to go to those in the sponging industry and five vessels are being allocated to the national dive program to increase Bahamian divers in the sector and others to fishermen.
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Tribune 242
18 November 2019