The Cayman Islands Tourism Association has thrown its support behind extending the ban on grouper fishing from spawning grounds.
“The Spawning Aggregations found in the Cayman Islands are all in jeopardy. Heavy fishing of these areas prior to the ban, which was implemented in January 2004 and will run through 31 December, 2011, reduced the reproductive population of Nassau groupers by approximately 50 per cent in a period of two spawning seasons. As it takes 7 to 8 years for the groupers to reach sexual maturity, the population is slow to replenish itself when so many fish are taken in a short amount of time.
“Because of the pressure from all sides on the Nassau grouper population, scientists have deemed that allowing the fishing of these majestic fish at the spawning aggregations would be the death knell to these fish, ensuring that they would soon be considered reproductively extinct from our waters.”
Ensuring healthy stock
The association said that it is only advocating for a closure of fishing on all current and historical aggregation sites as well as a seasonal ban on the harvest and sale of Nassau grouper during the spawning months.
“To do so will ensure that Cayman Islands will have healthy Nassau grouper populations for tourism and fishing, for generations to come. The association encourages members of the public to send a letter or e-mail to their MLA to tell them to support the extension of the ban on fishing [in these areas]. In addition, everyone can help by refusing to purchase grouper at the store or in a restaurant; instead, select a sustainable seafood option in its place.”
For more information about the research conducted on the Spawning Aggregations, please contact the Cayman Islands Department of Environment at 949 8469
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This is great! We all need to come out and support the continued protection of the last remaining grouper spawning hole in the Caribbean region.