ANCRAGES AUX BAHAMAS...

Another issue to cause an uproar. Hopefully it will die quietly.

Excerpt from article in Nassau Tribune.
Trust Chief: Anchorage Fees Must Be Nationwide
#By NATARIO McKENZIE

#The Bahamas National Trust’s (BNT) chairman has called for anchorage fees to be imposed in mooring spots throughout the Bahamas.

#Addressing the ninth annual Exuma Business Outlook conference, Eric Carey noted that while the BNT had implemented anchorage fees at the Exuma Land & Sea Park to cover its annual operating expenses and upgrade infrastructure, the initiative was one he believed should be implemented in other areas.

#“We need to think about doing these sorts of initiatives in other areas like Elizabeth Harbour off of Black Point, Staniel Cay and Nassau Harbour,” he said.

#“They come down there they anchor and they pay absolutely nothing and they come fully stocked. Half of the time they don’t even spend $5 in the Bahamas and what do they eat? Our fish,” said Mr Carey.

#Mr Carey noted that it costs the BNT $6000,000 annually to run the Exuma Land & Sea Park, which the Trust had to recoup from boaters.

#Mr Carey said that the Exuma Land & Sea Park contributes approximately $2.5 million to the economy of that island each year.

#“It’s an important stop and this is what national parks do.

#“If a park is there people have it as a part of their agenda that they want to spend time in the Exuma Land & Sea Park,” said Mr Carey.

#Stressing the need to wide the scope of anchorage fees Mr Carey added: Thousands of boats come in and lay up in Elizabeth Harbour, everyone of them should be picking up a mooring for which they should pay and if they don’t want to pay then they should go somewhere else. We have water quality issues and anchor damage in Elizabeth Harbour.

#“The Bahamas sells itself as sun, sand and sea but there is so much more that we need to be selling.

#“As an organisation we have never really promoted that the Bahamas needs to become a mecca for eco-tourism and that all of our efforts should be focused on eco-tourism,” Mr Carey added