Oyster harvesters nabbed in Caroni Swamp

According to a ministry source they were held by a team of wildlife officers on Monday last.

The two men were held illegally harvesting the oysters in a prohibited area of the swamp. They were in a boat using their fishing lines.

The two men, aged 50 and 30, were unarmed when they were held. Two years ago they had been previously warned by wildlife officers for being in the same prohibited area of the swamp.

Forest Ranger Ramlal and an honorary game warden laid the charges at the Chaguanas Police Station.

The source recalled that in July, 1987 the Act was amended, making a large part of the Caroni Swamp a prohibited area.

Amendment of the Act was meant to protect the marine life in the area. Approximately 2,094 hectares of the Caroni Swamp was declared to be a prohibited area as a result of the July 1987 amendment.

The fine for being in the prohibited area used to be $2,000 but the Forest Act was further amended in 1999, to increase the fine to $20,000 for just entering the swamp’s prohibited area.