Some new regulations regarding the fishing of crabs, shrimps and lobsters, presented at the ‘Rodrigues Regional Assembly’ (RRA) by the Commissioner for Fisheries Richard Payendee on the 30th of June have been voted without amendment on the same day. These regulations are read as follows: ‘Rodrigues Regional Assembly (restriction on fishing of shrimps) Regulations 2021’, in virtue of section 31 of the ‘Rodrigues Regional Assembly Act’, ‘Rodrigues Regional Assembly (restriction on fishing of crabs) Regulations 2021’, in virtue of section 31 of the ‘Rodrigues Regional Assembly Act’ and ‘Rodrigues Regional Assembly (restriction on fishing of lobsters) Regulations 2021’, in virtue of section 31 of the ‘Rodrigues Regional Assembly Act’.
Richard Payendee states that it is indeed a great day for Rodrigues, taking a new step ahead in creating the island of our dreams. According to him, these regulations will help in the vision of making Rodrigues an ecological island, with an eco-responbible government which will ensure a better future for the generations to come. « Some decisions may seem unpopular but are in the best interests of an ecological island which today is well-known throughout the world for having taken courageous decisions. I have to thank all the stakeholders working with the RRA », he said. He explained that the objective of these regulations is to allow the reproduction of the different species, while stopping their extinction through over-exploitation. « We intend to increase the production of these species so that they be in abundance, as they are also an attraction for tourists when they go for diving. These shellfish also have got many therapeutic virtues », he added. He is of the opinion that it is a must to protect these species which have got great potentials by fishing them in a sustainable way. To note that this does not mean that the fishing of these species is prohibited as from the 30th of June. It only means that the Commission for Fisheries is now mandated to determine the closure season, just like it was the case for the octopus closure season.
