Declare closed season for parrot fish -- Samuda

Government Senator Matthew Samuda wants lawmakers to explore the possibility of declaring a closed season for the parrot fish.

The suggestion comes amid a push by a number of local environmental groups for a full ban on the parrot fish.

The groups, in seeking to support their call, pointed out that the parrot fish helps to clean the coral reefs by eating the algae that grow on them and excrete sand, which is one way of countering beach erosion

Samuda, who was speaking in the Senate yesterday during the State of the Nation Debate, agreed that “an eventual ban on the consumption of parrot fish is required.”

However, he says at minimum, declaring a closed season would allow for a detailed analysis of all the concerns related to overfishing of the parrot fish.

He indicated, too, that it would allow time for carefully crafted implementation plans that would ensure that fisherfolks are not put under great financial stress.

Samuda also revealed that he has received detailed recommendations on the issue from the Jamaica Environment Trust and other stakeholder groups.

“It is my view that the Parliament should consider the recommendations. Our 18,000 fisherfolks deserve careful consideration. Our children deserve to benefit from our territorial waters,” he said of the proposals, which were circulated to members of the Senate.

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