Concerns raised
about lagoon fish
COLE BAY--Sports fishermen dropping their lines in Simpson Bay Lagoon may not raise eyebrows, as it is well accepted that the fish will not end up on a plate later. However, the sight of two fishermen gathering fish trapped in a net strung across one part of the lagoon recently has caused some concern.
A concerned resident who observed the men collecting their catch from the lagoon said he had been stunned to learn from one of the men that the fish possibly were destined for a restaurant.
Having told the man that the area was polluted because raw sewage flows into it, the concerned resident said, “The man just laughed and said in a very unconcerned way, ‘When you go to a restaurant you don’t know what you are eating.’”
The resident, who is knowledgeable about the state of the lagoon, did not want to have his name mentioned to avoid issues with the fishermen. “This is a health hazard and it needs to be addressed by the Hygiene and Health Departments. Fish poisoning is easy to get.”
He added that fish from some areas of the lagoon were edible, unlike the ones in the area behind Tropicana Casino. “Unlike this area where there is no circulation, there are others where the water is fine.”
If could not been ascertained to which restaurant the men intended to sell their catch. The Coast Guard was called to the scene, but when the officers arrived the men disappeared quickly after catching a glimpse of them.
Prosecutor Paul Mooij was also called to the scene and is on the lookout for other fishermen catching fish in the area.
Also related to fishing in the lagoon, recently Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority Corporation (SLAC) warned fishermen to desist from dropping fishing lines into the Simpson Bay bridge channel, as the practice poses a danger to people on dinghies and other small craft who use the channel.
