In San Pedro, hundreds, if not thousands have lost their jobs in the tourism industry. And, with the island in a full shutdown, for many getting a daily meal is proving difficult to impossible. That's why for many residents, the island is returning to its roots as a fishing village. They are fishing for sustenance, to eat a daily meal. But, on Saturday, that was put into question when the attorney general said this on Ask The Experts:
Michael Peyrefitte, AG
"We don't want people to go fishing in San Pedro as yet, why? Because then it becomes difficult for the Coast guard to maintain a structure and order to lockdown the island. You go fishing, 5 will give you 10, if some people go fishing somebody will take off on a boat to come to Belize City and that becomes hard to police, hard to police and so we want people to hold off on that activity for right now within San Pedro proper."
Since then the Coast Guard has confirmed that only persons with a fishing license can go out and fish. And they cannot go beyond the reef.
The Coast Guard has 8 vessels keeping an eye on the island's waters. Townspeople are clamoring for at least being allowed to fish off piers.
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