Fishermen Speak in Favor of Gillnet Ban

Dale Fairweather

The government has begun accepting submissions from the public relating to the use of gillnets in Belize’s waters. As we have been reporting, environmentalist groups have called on the government to implement a ban on gillnets in phases. They say that the disadvantages outweigh the benefits. On the other hand, some fishermen have been very vocal saying that banning the use of gillnets puts their livelihoods at risk. The information collected will be reviewed by the Gillnet Taskforce with the aid of an independent consultant with the intention to conduct an in-depth assessment of the benefits, risks, threats, and impacts of gillnets. Earlier in the month, fishermen who decided years ago to stop use gillnets explained why they made that decision. 

Dale Fairweather, Fisherman  

“Years ago when I used gill nets there was an abundance of fish but you also had an abundance of by-catch that you had to throw away. You catch a lot of crabs, a lot of fish that you don’t need. We had to throw it away so. It was a lot of hard work because they get tangled in the net, clearing out the net and throwing them away the things you don’t need. SO that is why I stopped using gill nets.”

Hopeton Westby Sr.

Hopeton Westby Sr., Fisherman

“The stock is getting smaller. In those days you used to go out there and in a day you can catch a few hundred pounds of fish. Nowadays you go out there and if you don’t know what you are doing, or the weather is bad and you can’t go to your area, then you catch no fish. You can’t even clear your expense. For me, I see where we used to go behind Bird’s Isle and catch the biggest mackerel you will like to see. Right at Bird’s Ilse, I could be speaking with somebody while I am catching mackerel. So I think the contribution to depleting stock is gill nets because of sharks. Because people who do sharks do not check their nets every four hours. They check it every twelve hours. So everything that gets in there beside lobsters and shark would be good. Every other fish is spoil. Turtles die, and everything is and that is waste fish because if you don’t check your net every two hours, the fish spoils. It becomes waste.”