The Department of Environment & Coastal Resources (DECR) and the Department of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries apprehended individuals caught fishing, whilst diving, in the North West Point National Park, Providenciales. The marine product confiscated included illegally caught conch, lobster and parrot fish. These individuals are currently being prosecuted accordingly.
As a reminder, please note that failure to comply with the Regulations will result in prosecution in court in accordance with the Fisheries Protection Ordinance (Ordinance 5 of 1941); Section 3 of the Regulations, Part 1(9,12, and 19), as follows:
Restrictions on means of taking marine products and harmful activities
- (1) No person shall––
- (c) use scuba equipment or any artificial breathing device other than a snorkel when taking marine products:
- (d) use Hawaiian sling for the taking of marine products, unless he is the holder of a commercial fishing license, anywhere within the fishery limits…
- (e) use any net or trap with intent to take any species of marine product in any part of the area known as Bell Sound and bounded on the North by a line running in an easterly direction from Horse Cay to Sail Rock Point.
- (f) be in possession of a spear gun within the fishing limits of the Islands; (Inserted by L.N. 9/2004)
- (g) engage in the practice of throwing any food into the water for the purposes of feeding or attracting or harvesting any species of marine life unless authorised to do so by the Director; and (Inserted by L.N. 9/2004).
- (1) & (2) No person shall––
- The close season in relation to crawfish shall be the period from the first day of April to the thirty-first day of July (inclusive) in each year or such other dates as may, from time to time, be appointed by the Governor in the Gazette;
- (a) any person who takes any marine product during a period which is a close season for that species of marine product commits an offence;
(b) any person who purchases or is in possession of any marine product during a period which is a close season for that species of marine product commits an offence unless he proves, the onus being on him, that the said marine product was not taken during the close season or that he did not know and had no reason to believe that the said marine product was so taken.
Under NO circumstances is anyone permitted to be in possession of lobster after the midnight on the 31st of March 2021. During the closed season it is illegal for fishermen to land or trade in lobsters and for restaurants and hotels to serve lobsters. The DECR therefore urges all fishing interests to ensure that they have NO lobsters in their possession at the end of the season. Please also be reminded that in the remaining days of the season, berried lobsters (or lobsters with eggs) MUST be returned to the water.
Restrictions relating to parrot fish
- (1) No person shall take, have in his possession, buy or sell any parrot fish;
(2) Any person who contravenes this regulation commits an offence.
Similarly, the DECR would like to remind the public that fishing within a National Park is illegal. Persons caught doing so will face the full extent of the law. This is in accordance with the National Parks Ordinance, Ordinance 11 of 1975, as amended.
According to Regulation 3, subsections (1), (2), (3) and (4) the following activities are prohibited within all National Parks, Nature Reserves, Sanctuaries or Areas of Historical Interest:
- The taking of any animal or plant by any method on land or at sea, except to the extent permitted in any fishing zone;
- The destruction of, or damage or injury to, any animal or plant;
Any persons caught contravening these regulations are committing an offense and is liable, on summary of conviction, to a fine of up to $50,000.00 or a term of imprisonment of 12 months, or both.
The DECR would like to encourage the public to be familiarize themselves with the National Parks / Nature Reserve / Sanctuary / Historical Area boundaries. This information is available in the National Parks Ordinance, which can be found on the DECR’s webpage: http://www.gov.tc/deacr . Should you notice illegal activity within the boundaries of these Protected Areas, please contact the Department at environment@gov.tc.
