As the Easter period approaches, the Forestry Services in the Ministry of Agriculture has issued a strong warning regarding the use of poisonous chemicals to catch aquatic wildlife such as crayfish, in the nation’s rivers.

The warning came from outgoing Director of Forestry, Fitzgerald Providence, during an interview with NBC News.

Providence said this issue arises every year during the Easter period and it is illegal to use poisons and other chemicals to catch crayfish. 

He has appealed to people not to catch the young fish as these must be left back to replenish river fish stocks.

"Another practice around this time as we come to Easter is the river fishing and we are asking persons if they are going to fish for crayfish or other aquatic animals to use their traditional basket method, where they flush their mouth and therefore the basket method only collects the large ones and not the juveniles and vulnerable ones and not to use any poisons or any material that would stupefied and kill the animals, because this is illegal."

Providence said while people across the country like to enjoy meals made from river fish during the Easter period, they need to make special effort to ensure it is fished from the rivers safely.

He reiterated that the use of poisonous chemicals to catch river fish can negatively affect the health of those who consume them, causes significant damage and kills many other fishes that are not used.

"When you are looking at catching your crayfish and so on do not use any poison0us materials because if you kill the animals using poison for those persons who eat that animal some of that poison would be there to impact on them. Also, we ask person to desist from any negative activity our waterways in terms of the collection of fish and crayfish."

SOURCE: National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC Radio)