MINISTER of Agriculture and Fisheries Derrick Kellier said yesterday that massive increases in penalties for breaches of fishing regulations approved in Parliament yesterday, will increase the court’s power to punish offenders.

Kellier, who is also minister of labour and social security, told the House of Representatives that although work is continuing on a comprehensive Bill to repeal the current Fishing Industry Act, the Government felt it necessary to table the Bill at this time.

He said that the current Bill will remove the time allowed for an appeal against the suspension of a fishing licence allowed under the Act, and will also make abundantly clear the need for a licence for all forms of fishing.

However, it is the magnitude of increases in the penalties which is most alarming to Jamaicans.

These include increases from $20 to $500,000 for fishing with an unlicensed boat; from $50 to $500,000, for fishing in a fish sanctuary; and from $1,000 to $3 million for illegally obtaining fish.

Kellier said that the current fines are not serving as a deterrent to people who breach the provisions, including people who overfish and excessively exploit the fishing resources.

“Abuses are taking place within the fishing industry and, if we are to create a fishing industry to benefit the people of this country, we have to take all necessary action to ensure that those who seek to undermine the industry are properly taken care of by the court,” he argued.

“So, we are giving the court the kind of ammunition and latitude it needs, to deal with those offenders who seek to deplete our fish resources,” he added.

The changes to the Act were supported by the Opposition’s spokesman on agriculture and fisheries, J C Hutchinson. Opposition spokesman on national security Derrick Smith also spoke. The Bill will now go to the Senate for its approval.

— Balford Henry