By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Fly Fishing Industry Association’s (BFFIA) president has accused rival factions of attempting to discredit him and the industry internationally, blaming them for stirring up controversy over the sector’s proposed new regulatory framework.

Prescott Smith, who was re-elected as the Association’s president at last week’s annual general meeting (AGM), said special interest groups within the Bahamian fly fishing community had launched a smear campaign against him, arguing that the proposed regulations would create greater empowerment for Bahamian bonefishing guides.

“These individuals are trying to get the international community to bring pressure to discredit us,” Mr Smith told Tribune Business. “They are the ones reaching out to the international community and stirring up controversy.

“There were factions lobbying against us being re-elected. It’s a smear campaign. They reached out to use international pressure to discredit the Board and the Association. They recognise that this legislation will lead to real empowerment in our industry. The pressure is only going to intensify going forward.”

At the centre of the controversy that has erupted within the industry is the proposed requirement that all visiting fly fishermen, even experts coming to the Bahamas for decades, have to hire a local guide at a cost of $600 per day.

Then there are the stricter definitions for foreigner fishermen and foreign-owned bonefishing lodges, which has been seen by some as anti-foreign. Tourism stakeholders are especially concerned that the planned changes to the Fisheries Resources (Jurisdiction and Conservation) Act and accompanying regulations will create more ‘red tape’ and price the Bahamas out of the market.

“It’s about trying to strengthen the Bahamian guides who are out there toiling in the sun. It’s about strengthening our own,” responded Mr Smith.

He denied suggestions that last Thursday’s AGM was not properly conducted. “The AGM went well,” said Mr Smith.

Eleuthera bonefishing guide and BFFIA Board member, Denny Rankin, told Tribune Business that while the voting process got underway later than expected, groups lobbying against them chose to leave when it became apparent that the process would not turn out in their favour.

“One of the groups that left was the True Group from Freeport that came to support us. Due to the fact that they were going on a commercial flight back to Grand Bahama, we lost six people in that rush also. Some of the other persons left because they were of the opinion that they would be able to vote, and when they realised they couldn’t they left,” said Mr Rankin

“The same way they flew in guides and bused them to the meeting, they would have had a charter flight ready for midday to go back home if things were going their way,” said Mr Smith.

“We’re not fighting with the international community. It’s a few people with their own special interests trying to bring pressure within the international community. It’s not an exercise that will do us or them any harm. It will take some of the money that these foreign lodge owners are making and put it into the hand of the local guides. The monies that are involved in this industry are so large they don’t want to lose that,” said Mr Smith.