Thursday, December 15, 2016 - 08:45
Every year hundreds of fishermen pack the beach along the peninsula up to the so-called third pole and even up to Sandwich Harbour, if they have special permits when kabeljou start their breeding run from the north to breed in the waters off the beach. For the past two years restrictions were placed on the fishing of kabeljou but the law was never amended to do so.
The newly amended law restricts the catching of kabeljou on the beach and up to two miles into the sea off the beach. It does not however restrict the catching of other species along the same stretch of beach.
A fisheries official said the amended law is aimed at conserving the species when it is at its most vulnerable and to promote the growth of the resource which has been dwindling because of over fishing in the past. He was of the opinion that the policing of the restriction is made difficult by the fact that fishermen will be allowed to catch other species in the area and said the restriction should be on all species in the restricted area because not many of them are in the water when the kabeljou breeds.
The official said the amended law will be used as a practice run and should further amendments be needed it will be made in a timely fashion. He asked the public to give their cooperation in this regard to avoid clashing with the law that will cause disruption to an otherwise enjoyable holiday season.