Out-of-scale project for Bimini’s small cluster of islands, just 50 miles for Florida, would just about ruin a good portion of the islands’ bone fishing
[dropcap]A[/dropcap] court has ordered a resort company to stop dredging off the Bahamian islands of Bimini, granting at least a temporary victory to critics who say the project is damaging the delicate underwater environment prized for its marine diversity.Known for its warm, clear water, Bimini is a world-famous destination for diving, bone fishing, big game fishing and research on its many shark species, including the great hammerhead, which can grow to almost 20-feet in length.
Dredge silt making its way to coating and destroying Bimini’s reefs and negatively impacting the flats fishing.
The London-based Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, the ultimate court of appeal for commonwealth countries, said Resorts World Bimini must stop the dredging until it can show it has the environmental permits required under Bahamian law. The company insists it has the right permits.
Fred Smith, a lawyer for the Bimini Blue Coalition, a local group that opposes the dredging, said: “The coalition is ecstatic that the rule of law has prevailed. It is a signal that you must respect the local people.”
