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Filming in Hope Town [or ... Hollywood visits The Abacos]
By Stephanie
Humblestone
Hope Town is truly living up to its name of "Hollywood"
this summer. From the middle to the end of June MacGillivray
Freeman Films from Laguna Beach, California has been using the
quiet cay with its beautiful waters to film an Imax documentary
about dolphin communication. Kathleen Dudzinski, a Californian
marine biologist featured in the film, has a rich background
in working with dolphins which she has not only shared with the
rolling cameras but also the children of Hope Town All Age School.
The film, slated to be out on general release in February 2000,
will last about 40 minutes. It will be shown on a screen six-storeys
high. Scenes of local colour will include Hope Town harbour,
Tahiti Beach and White Sound. Residents of the cay have taken
an active interest in the film and many will appear on screen.
Locations Manager Rebecca Lee from Freeport worked closely with
the Ministry of Tourism in Marsh Harbour to facilitate the hiring
of extras and coordinating events. Over 80 extras were recruited
from Freeport and Marsh Harbour. "In this business you have
to wear many hats," said Rebecca as she busily mingled amongst
the crew of 23 and the extras. She praised Winsome Ferguson and
Sherry Parker from the Ministry of Tourism, who worked tirelessly
for the ten days the film crew were there to make sure that everything
went smoothly.
One of the bugbears of being an extra is the waiting around but
this did not faze Nicole Ferguson, a pretty bright-eyed girl
from Marsh Harbour. "I enjoyed every aspect so far and I
have had a wonderful time," she said. Jason Roberts, a young
musician from Sandy Point, enjoyed his day on set. He played
the role of a young man about to be married. He was given scope
for creativity. "I was allowed to free- style it and it
was an enjoyable experience," said Jason.
A highlight of the filming was on June 15th when the 28 all-male
contingent of the Junkanoo Classic Dancers from Freeport performed.
The crew's cameras followed the four times defending Freeport
champions as they played drums, bells and brass instruments and
gyrated through the streets in their kaleidoscopic costumes.
There is talk of more filming in the months to come - possibly
five or more films to be shot in Marsh Harbour and on the cays.
Names like Robert de Niro, Sylvester Stallone, Tom Hanks and
Jim Carey are hot on the lips of the young people. If so, it
is fun for Abaco and a boost for the economy in general.
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A Summary of Fishing Rules
Abaconian
Editorial Staff
The
government has the responsibility to protect and manage the fishing
resources for the benefit of the Bahamian people. The intent
is to allow visitors to catch fish for their immediate enjoyment
but not to compete with commercial Bahamian fishermen. The fishing
rules that apply to visitors and residents are generally not
well understood and the following guidelines apply mainly to
visitors. Fishing from a boat owned by a non-Bahamian requires
a fishing permit for the boat which is usually purchased by cruising
boats at Customs when a boat enters the Bahamas.
The permit fee is $20 for one visit or $150 annually. The permit
is valid for all people on board. Foreign owned boats, even if
registered in the Bahamas, must obtain the sportfishing license
before the occupants begin fishing. Locally, permits may be purchased
in Cooper's Town, Abaco, from Fisheries Superintendent Carroll
Laing. His office phone is 242-365-8537. Boats owned by Bahamians
do not need a permit for recreational fishing. This includes
Bahamian-owned rental boats. Non-Bahamian fishermen in a boat
are "restricted to hook and line" with a maximum limit
of five lines in the water.
Anyone may use an electric reel but only five hooks per line
are allowed. Six or more hooks per line are considered long-lining
which is illegal.
There are restricted areas where fishing is not allowed by any
means by any person. The Pelican Cay Park and the Fowl Cay Preserve
are two areas in central Abaco where this would apply. No marine
resource may be taken from the park areas. Marine resources include
everything in the water; fish, shells, rocks and seaweed. Since
the marine parks do not have signs and fenceposts, it is wise
to give them extra clearance so there is no question as to your
location.
The Fisheries officers strongly suggest that you do not combine
a fishing trip with a visit to a park. If a Fisheries officer
boards your boat in a park and finds fish on board, problems
will ensue since you cannot prove where they were caught. Conversely,
if you are out deep sea fishing and a Fisheries officer finds
dive equipment on board as well as fish, problems may arise.
Another restricted area for spearfishing by anyone is a coastal
zone extending two hundred yards from the coast of Abaco as measured
at the low water mark. This prohibited zone is the same for all
Family Islands except Freeport which has a one mile exclusion
zone.
Recreational divers may not spear fish or catch conch while using
an underwater air supply of any kind. Commercial Bahamian fishermen
need a license to catch crawfish with a compressor but cannot
use SCUBA gear. Licensed Bahamian fishermen may fish by free
diving to any depth, but are restricted to the 30 to 60-foot
zone when using compressed air and having a compressed air license
and then only to catch crawfish during the season.
All divers may spear fish while free diving but are not allowed
to use power guns or trigger-operated guns of any kind. The most
common spear allowed is the Hawaiian sling. Bang-sticks using
shotgun shells for personal protection underwater are allowed
but must have an annual firearm license from the Police and permission
by the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries. The following bag
limits for fish apply to all non-Bahamians, whether in a foreign
boat or Bahamian boat regardless of the fishing method.
A combined total of six fish per person per vessel for kingfish,
dolphin and wahoo. All other migratory fish caught, unless it
is to be eaten, shall not be injured unnecessarily but returned
to the sea alive.
Vessel bag limits are 20 pounds of scalefish, 10 conch and six
crawfish per person at any time.
The possession of turtle by non-Bahamians is prohibited.
Grouper and rockfish weighing less than three pounds may not
be taken.
The bag limits may be legally taken to Florida when the vessel
leaves the Bahamas. Any fish within the bag limit can be given
away to friends or others but visitors who sell or exchange their
fish for accommodations or dockage are subject to prosecution.
Note that the limits must match the number of people. For instance,
four people can have 80 pounds of fish. If one person leaves,
20 pounds of fish should accompany him, leaving only 60 pounds
for the other three. This also applies to boats returning to
Florida as the U. S. authorities respect these limits. Visitors
with crawfish must ensure that they do not exceed the limit of
six per person at any time. The limits are not accumulative for
successive days or for people no longer in your group. Legal
size for crawfish caught by anyone is a minimum tail length of
five and one half inches (5") or a three and a quarter inch
(3") carapace (shell) length. Egg bearing females must not
be disturbed. The eggs are visible as a red mass under the tail.
The closed season on crawfish is from April 1st to August 1st
and applies to everyone. There are no limits to the amount of
fish that can be legally purchased by visitors. However, amounts
above the bag limits should be documented with receipts and invoices
to clarify the origin of the fish.
Bahamians may have any quantity of fish but must observe the
minimum sizes. Any crawfish in freezers of Bahamians, second
home owners or visitors on April 1st, the first day of the closed
season, should be documented with a letter to the Minister of
Agriculture and Fisheries. You may or may not be inspected by
a Fisheries officer to verify the quantity. The bag limit applies
to freezers ashore as well as boats.
Remember that the amount of fish must match the people in the
house for non-Bahamians. Only adult conch may be taken by Bahamians
and visitors. The adult conch is identified by a wide and well
flared lip on the shell. Juvenile conch have a thin lip which
has not yet flared. Help keep conch plentiful in the Bahamas
by leaving the juveniles. One other rule prohibits fish resources
to be imported into the Bahamas without the Minister's permission.
This is to avoid any misunderstanding as to whose fish are on
board. If you have fish on your boat, they are presumed to be
Bahamian and must be within the bag limits. The Abaconian compiled
this information from the two Fisheries officers assigned to
Abaco, Mr. Carroll Laing in Cooper's Town and Mr. Wayne Cornish
in Marsh Harbour. They may be contacted for further information.
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Rain [and
its importance to the Abaco islands, water usage etiquette and
more]
by Stephanie
Humblestone
I thought it was only the English who talked about the weather
until I moved to Abaco. I don't recall it being a conversation
piece in Nassau unless a mighty hurricane was threatening the
shores of New Providence or an intense humidity stifling its
residents. When it rains on these sometimes arid cays, it's big
news with everyone from the old folk talking across the white
picket fences to the little children proclaiming that it is raining.
In church last Sunday when the minister asked if anything exciting
has happened this week, as is his wont, a little girl waved her
hand energetically and, like a cloudburst herself, yelled, "It
rained." This prompted another child to overcome her shyness
and say "My mum's got a generator and my grandfather turns
it on." I am sure that at five years old I couldn't say
the word let alone know how it worked. From an early age we are
well primed on these isolated cays about water preservation,
water availability and its importance. It's our life blood.
The irony is, of course, that we are surrounded by it. "Water!
Water everywhere!" but sometimes to complete the saying
there is "not a drop to drink." When you look into
your rainwater tank and a hear a frightening echo as you talk,
as you lean forward and nearly disappear fifty feet down in an
effort to see the telltale line around the edge, you know that
it's time to be concerned. It is time, too, to rush into the
house and ration bathing, save the dishes for one big wash and
make provisional plans for barging in water from Marsh Harbour.
This may include a call to a neighbour suggesting you share a
load, a load often being 10,000 gallons. It is often a good idea
to hold back for a few days, economise and just wait as often
invariably when you order water the next day, it rains. That's
Murphys Law.
It is sweet music to the ears to awaken to the sound of frogs
croaking as that is a good sign it will rain. It is even sweeter
music to hear it splashing into the rainwater tank, and into
the countless buckets, saucepans and sundry receptacles around
the house gathering its every drop. It is pure joy to stand under
a gutter and feel it trickle on your head but best of all is
when you turn to your neighbour and say, "My tank is overflowing!"
That deserved shower never felt so good. The water saver knob
can be dispensed with temporarily and you can bath without the
accompanying guilt that you may be taking more than your share.
However, old habits die hard. I still find myself preserving
water when I'm not in Abaco. I must be one of only a few to consider
the water capacity of the Radisson Hotel. When I am out of Abaco,
I forget that I don't have to stand with lathered hair for five
minutes while I soap the rest of me! I also have to remind myself
that when I am in polite company and not at the mercy of a depleted
rainwater tank that I can dispense with the saying, "In
this land of sea and sun You only flush for number one."
Little wonder I am not invited back!
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