Plans to protect the territory’s ecosystems continued this week with a series of public meetings to discuss expanding protected areas.
The proposed expansion has already been plotted out by officials from the National Parks Trust, the Conservation and Fisheries Department, and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour. The meetings were held to explain to the public, in particular the fishers, exactly how they’ll be impacted, said MNRL Deputy Secretary Joseph Smith-Abbott at Monday’s meeting in Carrot Bay.
“There’s a misconception about what we’re trying to do, and we’re aiming to put our plan in the proper context,” he said. “People are thinking this is going to be a total ban [on fishing], and that’s not the case.”
New protected areas will be implemented sometime this year near Jost Van Dyke (the Tobagos, Northern Cays and the Eastern JVD Marine Area); Virgin Gorda (the Greater Baths and Taylors Bay); and Anegada (the Anegada Horseshoe Reef, the Anegada Channel Fisheries Protected Areas, and the Eastern Wetlands), according to Mr. Smith-Abbot’s presentation.
NPT Planning Coordinator Nancy Woodfield-Pascoe added that protected areas aren’t exclusive to the territory’s waters, explaining that on land protected areas will be expanded to protect Anegada’s rock iguanas and nesting sea turtles.
Expanding protected areas around the Tortola area will be discussed later this year, Mr. Smith-Abbott added.
He also explained the rules about fishing in the protected areas. For example, a large protected area in the Greater Baths and Taylors Bay will allow fishing with valid fishing permits, according to his presentation. Other new areas will follow the same policy.
See the Jan. 22, 2015 edition for full coverage.