COLE BAY–Nature Foundation has recorded a number of incidents of poaching within the Man of War Shoal Marine Protected Area. The foundation has noticed evidence of poaching and has been sent pictorial proof of poaching incidents in the marine park.
The foundation is in communication with the Coast Guard on how to tackle the poaching in the area. It will also implement increased weekend and early morning patrols.
“It seems as if people are again fishing illegally just inside the Marine Park both during the day and at night. We have been working hard in changing the perception within the community in general and the fishing community specifically about the importance of not fishing in the Marine Park and protecting shark species to our economy and to keeping healthy fish stock in balance,” said Nature Foundation Manager Tadzio Bervoets.
The area of the Marine Park has been off-limits from fishing since 2010 and the intentional hunting and harming of sharks has been made illegal in St. Maarten waters since 2011. Since 2012 there were seven incidents of sharks being harmed or killed in the waters surrounding St. Maarten, two of which occurred in the Man of War Shoal Marine Park.
The practice of intentionally fishing for sharks has been forbidden since October 12, 2011, when the Ministry of Tourism and Economic Affairs banned the practice of intentionally poaching sharks in the territorial waters of St. Maarten. The act of trying to catch by tracking, stalking, baiting, chasing, trapping, hooking, netting, shooting or otherwise hunting sharks, rays and skates is prohibited and therefore the animals may not be wounded, caught, landed, or killed.
Violators may be punished with jail and a considerable fine may be issued. If a shark is accidentally caught, all steps should be taken to release the animal with as little harm as possible.
The ban on intentionally harming sharks was further reinforced in June 2016 with government announcing St. Maarten’s territorial waters as a shark sanctuary.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/84973-poaching-recorded-in-man-of-war-shoal-park
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