WHITEHOUSE, St James– The Dominican Republican man accused of stealing millions of dollars in lobsters from the Whitehouse Fisherfolk Cooperative here is to be tried in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrates’ Court on March 2 next year.

However although the fishermen are happy on that account, they say the theft, coupled with the fact that usual season catch of fish that comes with the cold fronts associated with the hurricane season did not materialise, has all but ruined them.

“We had planned to depend on the lobsters to take us through the season since the usual catch of fish–Grouper, Snapper, Yellow Tail–didn’t come through because there was no hurricane. Now we have to be telling all our customers whom we usually supply during this season that we can’t fill their orders…all becase of this theft,” said Troy Jumpp, President of the cooperative.

According to Jumpp, the fishermen are looking to Agriculture Minister Tufton for a meeting to discuss the impact of the theft as well as the effect that coastline developments has had on their ability to make a living from fishing.

“We are anticipating a meeting to see whaty can be done for the members of the cooperative because we have been dealt a very severe blow which is not being taken seriously.

We are getting the impression as if what we have suffered is just one of those things tha will soon blow over , but for us it is a very big thing,” he said.

Two weeks ago Dr Horace Chang, the Minister of Water and Housing reiterated the warning that fishing on the North Coast was becoming an increasingly unviable livelihood.

Chang who was speaking at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Montego Bay Marine Park and the Spanish- Jamaican Foundation to discourage fishing in the area in favour of cnoducting tours with the assitance of a glass bottom boat donated to the fishermen by the foundation said alternatives to fishing had to be found.

However some old seafarers in the second city later spurned the gift, stating that they would rather continue fishing.