The Editor, Sir:

I think that Christopher. Tufton means well to the fishing industry.

I have been a fisherman from the '70s and the fisheries division always stresses the importance of conservation but no one takes heed, starting with the government of Jamaica, especially.

For example, the fisheries division says to fishermen: 'Don't use the one-inch wire to make traps; they are killing the small fish and they don't get to reproduce.'

Yet, fishermen still use it once they get their hands on it because it catches more fish. How would they get it if the government stopped the importation of that particular product at the port of entry or didn't import it at all?

This all happens because of greed and short-sightedness. The people with the import licence who import that wire never fish one day in their life to see the havoc those wires bring to the industry. They just want to make their money by selling their product.

It is also short-sightedness on the side of the fishermen as they think they are going to have the fish around in bulk forever.

It is one thing to set up all these credit unions and banks to get fishermen and the fishing industry back on track , but where is the fish to catch to repay the loan?

We all have to do our homework first. Do the research first. The University of the West Indies and fisheries division need to find out the facts.

Is the Pedro Bank overfished, or is climate change the reason for the decline in the fish population?

A big loan without any ways or means to repay is not a good idea.

I am, etc.,

PHILLIP WHITE

mr_silver27@yahoo,com

North Lauderdale, Florida

Via Go-Jamaica