THE EDITOR, Sir:
I AM 11 years old and am very worried about the future of the fishing industry in Jamaica. I am very interested in fishing and other sports. This summer I participated in an International Junior World Fishing tournament in Key West, Florida. My boat alone landed and released over 100 fish from a dozen different species during the two-day tournament. In Jamaica you are lucky to catch five decent sized fish in a day and no one catches and releases them.
While in Key West the captain of my boat told me all about the different conservation rules for both commercial and sport fishermen. The penalties for breaking the laws are very harsh, so they are obeyed.
I think that if the Government and National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) could spend the time and money to educate the fishermen in Jamaica, and keep them informed that maybe we will be able to save our environment and our natural fisheries. By saving the natural habitats there will be more opportunity for the fish to reproduce. With strict laws then we will be able to control our environment.
I love to listen to my families fishing stories of olden days when large snapper and lobster could be caught as close in as Lime Cay. I have never caught anything at Lime Cay.
I know that if the right important people wanted to save the fisheries then we would still have the time to do it, but I am afraid that my fishing stories to my children will not be of fish caught in Jamaica, because there won't be any.
I am, etc.,
DREW WILDISH
wildish@cwjamaica.com
Kingston
Via Go-Jamaica
