 Mr. Speaker, I beg to present for second reading a bill shortly entitled Fisheries Amendment. Thank you Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the purpose of this bill is to amend the Fisheries Act 715 to include two new sections to the bill. In 1994, the SMMB was established to serve as the institutional and technical framework for the management of coastal resources in the Sufra area, which were areas under conflict due to diverse use of resources by users. The SMMB was initially authorized to manage 11 kilometers of coastline in the Sufra area, which includes marine reserves, fishing priority areas, multiple use areas, recreational areas and Yatch moorings. In 1995, the SMMB under the Fisheries Act was designated as a local fisheries management authority. However, the areas of responsibility for the SMMB includes fishing in addition to scuba diving, snorkeling, Yatch moorings and other approved activities. This designation Mr. Speaker solely as a local fisheries authority has hampered the operations of the SMMB as it lacks the legislative framework to effectively manage the other aforementioned services within the SMMB boundaries. This lack of legislation Mr. Speaker has resulted in the inability of the Association to enforce protection and conservation measures within the designated area and to collect associated fees for services related to entry fees, snorkeling and swimming, dive permits and Yatch moorings. Therefore, the proposed amendment Mr. Speaker to the Fisheries Act intends to remedy the situation and bring some measure of normalcy to the operations of the SMMB as now there will be stronger alignment between the role of the SMMB and the legal authority. The bill also makes provision firstly for the amendment to allow the minister to designate a local marine cooperative or association and then further allows for the designated marine management authority to make its bylaws for the conduct and regulation of its affairs. Mr. Speaker, the amendment would allow the minister to also proceed with the designation of the SMMB as a marine management authority that will contribute towards resolving the long standing issues of challenges by users regarding the SMMB authority to collect user fees and to regulate the activities within its boundaries. In addition Mr. Speaker, breaches to the bylaws would now be constituted as an offence and on some reconviction a related fine not exceeding $10,000 can be charged. So basically Mr. Speaker, the SMMB had been operating as a local authority but it did not have the legislative framework to be able to allow it to collect user fees and for persons who know the significance of the marine environment in the super area, its whole involvement in tourism and so on Mr. Speaker, it was necessary for us to make that amendment so it would give the SMMB the authority to collect fees from the divers, the both owners and so the sustainability of the SMMB would be on a positive footing. So what it does to the bill Mr. Speaker is to include two new sections, section one would be 22A which gives it the authority for the establishment of the marine management authority and 22B Mr. Speaker would be establishing the bylaws of the marine management authority. So basically it's inserting those two new sections to the bill. This matter of the SMMB Mr. Speaker has been a very long outstanding one and I know on numerous occasions the member for Superforsajak has been very concerned about the sustainability of the SMMB and as a result we saw it necessary fitting and fitting for us to make the amendment to this bill. Mr. Speaker I want to also take time to thank the cabinet of ministers for approving our long awaited fisheries policy last year in 2022 and this was a bold step to advance government policy direction for the fisheries sector. Mr. Speaker the fisheries policy provides a roadmap towards sustained growth and development of the fisheries and aquaculture sub sectors as it integrates other national policies existing or emerging particularly where they have implications for fisheries value chain actors and the marine environment Mr. Speaker. So the approval of this policy by the cabinet Mr. Speaker is in line with what is happening in terms of our amendment to the fisheries bill and to give the SMMB more legislative power to be able to collect fees and to maintain the SMMB on a sustainable path. This is basically what it entails Mr. Speaker and I ask for the support of the honourable members towards this bill.