The reef/Poachers

My wife an I have been vacationing in Negril for 18 yrs and really love it. We love the beach, Sun, the people of this beautiful island. We love to snorkel everywhere we travel and have been very disappointed the past couple of years as well as our trusty glass bottom boat friend whom we have known for over a decade. On a couple of trips to the reef we have actually chased poachers from the reef. Our boat guy is very upset,as are we, with the result.

On a daily basis the poachers are cruising around with their kayaks and spear guns and killing everything they could. Including turtles, lobster no matter the size and any fish in their path. They sell the fish to the hotels on the beach, the lobster to tourists, no matter the size. I happen to be talking with a long time native friend of mine when the poacher who has the white kayak, came in with a bucket of lobster. He asked if I wanted to buy them, and I LOVE my lobster. I said after taking one look at them. "you would be arrested if you were in the US". He replied "I would be arrested if I were caught here.

Interesting comment. No let's talk about the Marine patrol that seems to cruise by, maybe a hand full of times over the 9 days that we were there this February. Not one time did they ever stop to check out anyone, for anything. I have never seen them anywhere near the reef. They just cruise down the beach at a slow pace and then back. I guess to show their presence to the tourist. These poachers are actually afraid of being arrested. He told me that. All the marine patrol has to do is patrol the reef area and it's surrounding, Early in the morning, a couple times a week. Show a presence. It works.

I never did buy any lobster. I would never support a poacher.

Also one thing I saw a few weeks ago was a couple of tourists who had snorkeled come into shore with a live conch. They wanted the shell(which you can buy from any number of beach guys). A Jamaican fellow "helped" them by continuously slamming the shell into the hard sand eventually killing the resident and thus they had their shell. No one to my knowledge kept the conch to eat. It was too late by the time we approached them to try to stop it. What a waste.

that is why their reefs are not that good anymore and its a real shame. Iv been snorkling in protected reefs before and the difference is amasing. I never go out to Negrils reefs anymore, whats left of em that is

I was hoping to open someones eyes that could maybe start to make a difference. It's really a shame and with a little effort and attention by the marine patrol it can begin to change for the better. There are a handful of guys out there doing it every day. There are many glass bottom boat workers that are really feeling the effects. We used to go out three or four times in a trip. We've been only going out once lately during our trip. It's disappointing. It's a treasure in Negril that is being destroyed.

The reef suffer from overfishing and pollution. this process can be reversed once people realize that protecting the fish can actually bring more income into the comunity. this is been done in other parts of the Caribbean successfully

I'm hoping too that they will realise the potentail benifits protecting and improving the reefs will do for the whole area. Now that the jet skis are gone, this is the perfect opertunity to start restoring the reefs. We used to enjoy the reefs there but over the years saw them going down hill and being that we have snorkled in some very nice protected reefs and the virgin islands and Belize we find it difficult to see whats been happening to negrils reefs. That being said, we do not want to discourage anybody from going out to the reefs, What we do need is more ppl that want to protect and inhance them to visit them and to give your inputs on things that will help the reefs . There are some very good glass bottom boat guides who feel the same about protecting the reefs and I garrentee you they worry about the reefs too , not just because they make a living off of taking ppl out to them, Yes it is their living but they are out there every day and have seen the slow decline.

We have been disappointed but I am attempting to raise awareness because of what our friend and glass bottom boat capt has told us. It is how he makes his living as well as many others up and down the beach. From our perspective, the police, both on the beach and in the boats just don't seem to pay any attention to the activity. I have witnessed both country country and idleawhile purchase conch and very small fish from the poacher in the white kayak

Put a bounty on lionfish. although beautiful they are invasive and not from the Caribbean. they will eat most of the other fish if given a chance. they also tastes pretty good. this would be an incentive for the poachers to hunt them out. hopefully giving the rest of the fish a break. beware spines are very poisonous.

They kill them all the time. They take every conch in their path, every fish including lion fish, every lobster no matter the size and even turtles when they come across them. Out of ten lobster it would be lucky if one (1) of them were large enough to take. If you snorkel out from the beach to where the grass begins, there are piles of dumped conch shells. They are everywhere. It's all they know and when no one bothers them it's just a regular day at the office.
It's up to the officials of negril to notice there is a problem and to take action. The police stroll up and down the beach, usually looking for some shade, without earning a nickel of what they are being paid for. The marine patrol is no better. These poachers are out there every single day and their boats are filled.

In Ambergris Caye they have a Lion fishing contest..and I was surprised at how many Lion fish they can catch..After the contest they clean em up and have a fish fry...Seems like one good way to get rid of those fish! And a couple of years ago it appeared they were going to be shipping the lionfish to somewhere in the states...I think Minnesota... to a restaurant that wanted them..Not sure if it all went thru but that would also help..

Canoe bar has been serving up lion fish for the past two years! It had become one of our most popular menu items. We are also committed to serving only large mature fish which we filet on premises. Cheers!

The lion fish are not the ones killing the Turtles or the conch.

This post was started to try to open someones eyes that has the power to make a difference and save the reef and the creatures that live there. To make it what it once was. A healthy reef would do a lot for the negril area as well as bring back the animals that once thrived there and more tourists dollars for the locals.

It's a good post, Mtig!

As long as tourists buy the small lobster, and out of season lobster, they will be illegally poached.
With education, maybe we can help.
Thanks, Mtig.

Agree with education but I believe the individuals who are currently poaching are beyond education. Maybe the children. With a little effort from the local authorities, these guys will stop.

And

There used to be a Negril Coral Reef Protection or Preservation Society - there was a link on this site's home page. At least I think there was. I believe, when not driving the One Love Bus, Lenbert is involved with it - maybe Rob can direct people to the right people to help preserve this treasure!
Sir Rob?

Thank you Sir Rob, that's exactly what is needed to get started. People to get involved. Better yet Jamaican people who have a lot at stake with this treasure.
Listen if there were a few people who were ruining it for everyone else and I mean the glass boat operators,para sailing employees, restraunts, hotel employees, ganga boys, everyone who makes a living on the most beautiful beach in the world and this was in Philly? The poachers kayaks would either be missing or destroyed. Their acts definitely takes away from everyone who earns a living in Negril.
A beautiful and lively reef would make everyone in Negril more money. If the Marine patrol and police don't do what they are paid to do, the people must speak up and Save The Reef.
The more beautiful and the more lively that reef is, the more money that would be flowing into Negril.

Remember not to buy under sized lobster. Save the reef...

There needs to be some form of Marine Conservation, like zones.

The Marine Police did nothing when we were there, apart from come to Bloody Bay, moor up, grab a drink, chat with some locals, grab another drink, motor back to their mooring by Hedo, day done!

Sustainability is key here. However, without education sustainability and conservation areas ain't gonna happen.

Captain Dennis Abrahams in Treasure Beach has done an amazing job on the south coast with a fish sanctuary. Perhaps he and some fishermen in the Negril area can meet up to see if a similar project could be done in Negril. Here is a great article about Capt Dennis http://blog.korwater.com/water-cause...nnis-abrahams/

Hopefully all who have read this post will take some kind of action while visiting this awesome place on this earth. Talk to a local about this concern, tell tourists who surround the kayaks as they land on the beach about this concern. It real and if it continues, it will further the demise of the reef and the bounty that it protects. Save the turtles! Save the reef!

Posted today on RJR news

http://rjrnewsonline.com/local/jamai...oaching-at-sea

The local government has got to take a stand. It will not be cured overnight but without someone of authority standing up to address this very important issue, it will continue to get worse. Locals have got to pay attention, they have the most to lose. Wake up... Save the Reef!!

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Originally Posted by SazO

There needs to be some form of Marine Conservation, like zones.

The Marine Police did nothing when we were there, apart from come to Bloody Bay, moor up, grab a drink, chat with some locals, grab another drink, motor back to their mooring by Hedo, day done!

Sustainability is key here. However, without education sustainability and conservation areas ain't gonna happen.

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They are there they just have to do something about it.

Watch Booby Cay at around 5am and it is crawling with fisherman. Down by grand lido net fishing happens every day. When I first saw pics of the coral 15 years ago to what it is now I almost cried, there is nothing left. My wife and I laughed out loud when we heard there was people regulating the fisherman. Our trip in Oct will be our tenth trip in 5 years and the only change we have seen is MORE people in the water. I'm not sure who is hurting Negril's reef so fast, and I would never tell anyone not to make a living, but I fear over fishing one spot in a short period of time is going to come back and haunt everyone.

Has anybody seen an increase in patrols dealing with poachers as noted in this article?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by captaind

Posted today on RJR news

http://rjrnewsonline.com/local/jamai...oaching-at-sea

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Here

How might one determine that a lobster is too small by regulation? The ones I've had right on the beach didn't seem small at all but I'm just curious if there is a specific length to refuse.

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Originally Posted by InnaDiRed

How might one determine that a lobster is too small by regulation? The ones I've had right on the beach didn't seem small at all but I'm just curious if there is a specific length to refuse.

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The tail is measured with a gauge. 76mm or larger is legal. Not that anyone walking the beach would have. Most that I have seen coming in on the kayaks are too small.

I've been coming down to Negril since the early or mid 1970s. Love to snorkel. There was a stretch of many years when I didn't go down and in the last 7 or 8 years I've ben down 3 or 4 times. The snorkeling now sucks and seems to be getting worse. I'm scheduled to come down in a couple of weeks for probably, I hate to say it, my last visit. Why should I go to a place where I cannot enjoy one of the
things that I love to do there?
I love the people, the food, the music, the subs and many other things about the island but I cannot keep going to a dead ocean. I'm pretty sure I'll have to find somewhere else, might be a little more expensive but....
Education is the way to go. What are all these poachers going to do when the sea is empty and no tourists come?

I remember snorkeling off a boat on the way to the Cay and seeing some of the tallest coral towers I've seen anywhere since - and that includes dives at Cayman and Roatan, and snorkeling Cozumel. That was the early 90's. I haven't seen those since and by the sounds of it, they are gone. Or has anyone seen some fantastic coral lately anywhere offshore of 7-mile?

I kind of feel the same way. We love to snorkel and have been going to negril almost every year for 20 yrs. it's depressing. The glass bottom boat guys are seeing the decline year. There is none that I have seen off of 7 mile. It's a shame.