Published in The Boca Magazine
Vol. 12, Issue #2 (April-May 2012)
Contributor: The Tackle Shop
Any
die-hard Trini would tell you that nothing hits the spot like a good bake ‘n
shark. But as much I love this culinary
delight, I feel guilty, especially given the size of shark often offered up for
sale at local markets. Sometimes they’re
no longer than your forearm which brings into question fishing legislation and
conservation in Trinidad and Tobago.
So what
exactly is on the books in the Fisheries
Act, Chapter 67:51? In nutshell,
kingfish, carite, and grouper less than 30.5cm in length are off-limits. Redfish, jacks, and salmon over 20.3cm are
free rein. No mention of sharks. In
fact, many fish types are overlooked. This
snapshot of fishing legislation highlights the need for a more nuanced approach
to conservation since current policies specify a minimum fish
size regardless of individual fish species.
Case in
point: kingfish. Regulations state that no kingfish less than 30.5cm in length
“shall be taken or sold or exposed for sale.” Compare this to Florida’s Recreational Saltwater Fishing
Regulations, Issue 40, Jan. 2012: the minimum kingfish size limit is 61cm
fork length. Kingfish are reproductively
mature in 3-4 years by which time males are on average 71cm fork length and females
81cm. At 30.5cm, a Trini kingfish
happily swimming in the Boca is nowhere close to maturity and ought not to be
taken, sold, or exposed for sale. It is obvious that existing size limits are
not informed by the species’ biological lifecycle and morphology, a shortcoming
that policy makers need to address.
