New Fisheries Bill Also Effective for Inland Resources

Jose Abelardo Mai

Orange Walk South Area Representative, Jose Abelardo Mai spoke of the legislation in the context of the New River crisis of 2019.  According to Mai, the Fisheries Resources Bill also allows for the protection of inland resources such as the New River Lagoon.

Jose Abelardo Mai, Area Rep, Orange Walk South

“The existing act, I understand was from 1948, it was enacted in 1948.  So while we are signatories to international conventions and treaties to protect our natural resources, we are not in conformity.  So this act today, Mr. Speaker, allows us to fall into conformity with all these agreements that we have signed.  One of the good things I like about this act, being from Orange Walk inland, is that it allows us the opportunity for inland water reserves and conservation.  What happened to us in Orange Walk with New River is a wakeup call, we took everything for granted.  We took everything for granted and we all contributed to the pollution of a very important waterway in Orange Walk.  This bill now allows us to implement the inland water conservation practices and to declare certain areas as such.  During the New River crisis, I was doing some research and I came across several organizations that provide and have funding for such implementation of these reserves and protected areas and I want to propose to this honorable house that an area to look at carefully is south of the New River, or rather the New River Lagoon.  It is my belief that it is an area that can still be managed, that is what flows into the river.  This act now allows us for that great opportunity and we must work on that Mr. Speaker.”