2019/20 COMMERCIAL GUINEA CHICK LOBSTER FISHERY

Fishermen interested in participating in the 2019/20 Commercial Guinea Chick Lobster Fishery are invited to make application for an available place in the fishery.

Applications and terms and conditions of the fishery are available from the Licensing Office of the Department of Environmental Protection located in the Botanical Gardens in Paget.

FISHERIES ACT 1972
NOTICE ISSUED PURSUANT TO SECTION 4A OF THE FISHERIES ACT 1972

TAKE NOTICE that the Minister responsible for the Environment, being satisfied that there is an immediate need for the prohibition of fishing in a fish aggregation area, for the conservation and protection of the Blue-striped grunt (Haemulon sciurus) hereby notifies all members of the public that fishing in the fish aggregation area described below is prohibited from 1^st May 2019 through 30^th June 2019:

The Ministry of Home Affairs reminds commercial and recreational fishers that fishing in the Seasonally Protected Areas, also known as the “Hind Grounds” and “Grouper Grounds”, will be prohibited from 15 April to 14 August 2019 in order to protect spawning Red Hinds and Black Groupers.  Also note that while the Seasonally Protected Areas open on 15 August 2019, the Extended Closure Areas around important Black Grouper aggregations will remain closed to fishing until December 1, 2019.  See the below maps.

FISHERIES IMPORT LICENCES

Annual licences to import live fish (shellfish) and conch meat under Section 6 of the Fisheries Act 1972 will expire on 31^st December 2018. Applications to relicense or obtain a first-time Import Licence for the year 2019 can be made at the Licensing Office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources located in the Botanical Gardens, Paget.  The Licensing Office is open daily from 8:45am to 5:00pm, Monday to Friday. The application fee is $95.00

FISHERIES STATISTICS

The owner or operator of every licensed fishing vessel is reminded of the obligation to keep a daily log of catch and effort statistics relating to the operation of that licensed fishing vessel, and to make returns of the catch and effort statistics to the Director of Environment and Natural Resources on the fisheries statistics Form 3 or online at www.fisheries.gov.bm.

FISHERIES LICENSING

The 2019/20 fisheries licensing period will run from 2^nd January to 29^th March 2019.

Current fishing vessel licence holders must relicense during this period to retain their licence.

Licence application forms are available at the Licensing Office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources located in the Botanical Gardens, Paget. The Licensing Office is open from 8:45am to 5:00pm daily, Monday to Friday.