The Director of Fisheries and Marine Resources is reminding all owners of commercial and sport fishing vessels currently licence at the Department to have their licences renewed.  The deadline for the renewal of such licences is Wednesday, 30 June 2010. The licence renewal is for the period 1 August 2009 to 31 July 2010.

Given the need to collect additional information on fishers and their vessels, all boat owners will be required to complete a new application when renewing their l licence.  Furthermore, in a change of policy, all commercial fishing vessel owners will first have to apply for and be in possession of a Commercial Fisher’s Licence before their vessel licences can be renewed.  In addition, all crew members operating on fishing vessels will be required to be in possession of a Commercial Fisher’s Licence.

All persons applying for the renewal of a Commercial and Sport Fishing Vessel Licence and for a Commercial Fisher’s Licence will be required to show a valid passport and provide the Department with a photo of the fishing vessel and a passport size photo of the individual.

The Department is appealing for the cooperation of all fishing and sport fishing boat owners in this matter.  To this effect, all are reminded that ‘any person who uses a vessel for fishing, including commercial fishing or sport fishing, unless that vessel is licenced for that purpose is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of EC $50,000.00 or to imprisonment of one month or to both’.

-PRESS RELEASE

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