Marigot/Anguilla: ----- Fishermen on St Martin have decided to block all fishing and regular passenger boats coming to St. Martin from Anguilla on Wednesday as they protest against the decisions taken by authorities in Anguilla. According to information, reaching SMN News, authorities in Anguilla began imposing fines on St. Martin fishermen who have been fishing in their waters.It is understood that two local fishermen has to pay some $750 or EC750 for fishing in the Anguilla waters illegally something that does not sit well with the local fishermen who decided that they would block the maritime port on Wednesday so that Anguilla fishermen would not be able to sell their fish on St. Martin.
Emile Larmonie of Cul de Sac said he was supposed to be part of the protest on Wednesday but decided not to because the fishermen on St. Martin have been going further into Anguilla waters to fish for a very long time now. Larmonie a former deputy mayor who was in charge of maritime affairs said the French has not determined which and what belongs to St. Martin fishermen. Larmonie said the French fishermen have to contest the unfair treatment with their government since the little water space they had to fish was taken away by the Natural Reserve. "The French did not protect its fishermen and our people have been going somewhat too far, the fines that are being imposed by Anguilla are something that has been taking place a long time ago." Larmonie said he also participated in a meeting some three months ago and he is well aware of the situation.
Larmonie said it was made clear during the "grenelle de la mer" that the Natural Reserve was disproportionate and that something needs to be done for St. Maarten Fishermen. He said the action taken by the local fishermen on St. Martin including those from Cul de Sac is fair and that the locals are simply defending their daily bread. Larmonie further explained that local authorities have to now step up to the plate to find a solution to the ongoing problem between Anguilla and St. Martin fishermen.
The vice president of the Grand Case/ Cul de Sac community council said he already sent a letter to the Natural Reserve asking them to free up the Cul de Sac and Orient Beach reserve, which would allow the young men of St. Martin to occupy themselves by fishing. Larmonie said he even wrote the President of the Collectivity of St. Martin asking him to intervene since it has been recognized during the "grenelle de la mer" that the Natural Reserve has been disproportionate but to date nothing has been done by government. "The Natural Reserve is even charging people to snorkel at the Cul de Sac Bay as well has been charging restaurant owners on Pinel Island rent for using Pinel Island." Larmonie said.
"Our people have to defend their daily bread and by blocking the Anguilla fishermen from entering St. Martin are sending a clear message to both governments. Our fishermen are like goats locked in a pen, since they are fined for fishing in Anguilla and prevented to fish around St. Martin by the Natural Reserve."
St. Martin he said only has 12 miles in the Anguilla channel to fish and that is definitely not sufficient for them, Larmonie explained. Larmonie said the commune of St. Martin and Anguilla had an agreement, which would allow St. Martin fishermen to fish in Anguilla if the names of the boats and registrations were given to them. Larmonie said the reason why Anguilla was taking measures was because fishermen from Guadeloupe was fishing in their waters and the Anguilla authorities could not determine St. Martin boats from those from Guadeloupe since both islands had the same registration letters (PP) meaning Pointe Pitre.
Larmonie said the persons whose boat registrations were from St. Martin and were provided to Anguilla were given permission to fish in Anguilla during the commune's time. However, he could not say if that agreement is upheld by those managing the COM.
In the meantime, Anguilla police said they do not know what sparked the protest in St. Martin, but admitted they stopped a boat about one mile from Forest Bay on January 5. They said the two men on board the boat did not have any documentation to show ports authority and as such were asked to leave. SMN News learnt one of the men on board that boat was the president of the fishing association Tony Page. However, efforts to reach Page proved futile on Wednesday.
The following is a press release issued by the government of Anguilla on Wednesday evening.
Early this morning the authorities at the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications, Utilities, Housing, Agriculture and Fisheries learnt that some French fishermen were blockading both the Port of Marigot in St Martin and the entrance into the lagoon; when the first ferry leaving from Anguilla the "Ocean Three", was denied entry to the port. After learning of the incident and recognizing the impact on the ferry services and the travelling public, numerous phone calls were made to the various St. Martin port officials and an emergency meeting was held at the Chief Minister's Office, where a decision was made that a delegation from Anguilla should go over to St. Martin to speak with the local authorities there. The delegation from Anguilla included: Honourable Chief Minister, Mr Osbourne Fleming; The Honourable Minister of Finance, Mr Victor Banks; The Honourable Minister of Infrastructure, Communications, Utilities, Housing, Agriculture and Fisheries, Mr Kenneth Harrigan; The Honourable Minister of Social Development, Mr Evans Mc Neil Rogers, The Public Relations Officer in the Chief Minister's Office, Mr Curtis Richardson; The Permanent Secretary responsible for fisheries, Mr Larry Franklin; the Director of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Mr James Gumbs, and Mr. Maurice Connor of the Anguilla Tourist Board.
On arrival in St. Martin the delegation was met by a representative of the President of the Collective, The meeting was held at the Mayorie The St. Martin delegation which included a number of French and Dutch fishermen (including the head of the St. Martin fishermen association Mr Tony Page), and other French authorities.
After the customary introductions, Mr Frans Gumbs (Chairperson) open the meeting by indicating that it is unfortunate that we are having this meeting given the close relationship, which the people of Anguilla and French St. Martin have had over the years. He proceeded by asking the President of the fishermen association Mr Tony Page to explain the reason why the French fishermen were blocking the port.
Apparently, the St. Martin fishermen were reacting to an incident which happened on Tuesday 5th January 2010, where a fisherman from St. Martin was asked by Officers of the Marine Division of the Royal Anguilla Police Force not to fish in Anguilla waters without a valid fishing licence. The fisherman was obviously not happy with being unable to fish that day because he was under the impression that there was some unwritten agreement where French fishermen were allowed to fish in Anguilla waters without the appropriate fishing license. Hence, the unofficial blockage of the port a week later by the fishermen.
The Anguilla delegation reiterated the sentiments of Mr Gumbs in that Anguilla and St. Martin have always had a good relationship and that the Government of Anguilla recognizes the longstanding relationship and interdependence between Anguilla, St. Martin and St. Maarten in the area of transport, commerce, maritime and fishing matters. However, there is a need for persons to adhere to all legal requirements when they are in the territorial waters of Anguilla. The Anguilla delegation also stressed the need for Anguilla to protect its marine resources for the benefit of Anguillians while recognizing the traditional relationship with fishermen from St. Martin and St. Maarten.
It was agreed:
that the port should be immediately opened. The port was opened around 12:15 pm.
Indigenous fisherman from St. Martin and St. Maarten will adhere to Anguilla's legal requirements in order to fish in the territorial waters of Anguilla including obtaining the appropriate license and permissions.
The Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources in Anguilla and its counterpart organization in St. Martin will collaborate to ensure that issues are resolved in a timely and amicable manner.
Indigenous fisherman from St. Martin will be granted one month to apply to the Department of Fisheries and Martine Resources for the appropriate license. The license issued to the local St. Martin fishers will be for line fishing for pelagic fish species only (dolphin fish, wahoo, tuna etc.) and they will not be allowed to set fish traps targeting lobsters, crayfish, and reef fish.