Following widespread concerns about Government's $1000 requirement, the Hon. McKeeva Bush announced that ...
Fishing Licence Slashed
Government has reduced the licence fees for expatriate fishers from the proposed $1000 per month to $400 per year or $150 per month.
Leader of Government Business the Hon. McKeeva Bush announced the amendment in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday December 19, acknowledging that he had taken account of the concerns and criticisms raised by the public regarding his original intention to charge $1000 monthly for a licence.
"I am sure that even this amendment will not please everyone," Mr. Bush stated. "Nevertheless, the government has a responsibility to protect our natural resources for future generations. In order to do this today we must achieve a balance between Caymanians' traditional right of access to our marine resources, the importance of those same resources to our tourism product, and the growing pressure placed on our fragile resources by an increasing multicultural population. I believe that this amendment achieves this balance."
Mr. Bush said that since the passage of the Amendment Law, the Ministry and Department of Environment as well as other members of the House have received numerous representations on the matter of the fishing licence from Caymanians and residents alike.
He said that when the amendment was introduced, he explained that the objective was to curtail the growing practice of certain individuals taking large amounts of juvenile fish the Cayman Islands' waters and the monthly licence fee of $1,000 was set as a deterrent.
Mr. Bush said the new amendment would change the requirements for a fishing licence such that only those persons who are resident on the island and do not possess Caymanian Status or are on a Work Permit who are fishing from shore or in shallow waters will require a licence.
Persons resident in the Islands who engage in the type of sport fishing known as "catch-and-release fishing" will not be required to obtain a fishing licence.
He said: "What this means is that the vast majority of concerns regarding negative impacts on fishing tournaments, charterboat operators, and other local marine service businesses should fall away. In addition, the much reduced licence fees should allow all residents who fish as a means of relaxation and recreation to continue to enjoy this activity."
Mr. Bush added: "In fact, anyone - Caymanian or resident - fishing from a boat and those people who engage in "catch-and-release" fishing from the shore will be able to continue this form of recreation at no cost.
"However, as I have previously outlined, all non-Caymanian residents and those on work permits will be required to have a fishing licence in order to catch fish for consumption from the shore, including from docks and jetties, or when wading out in shallow water."
Mr. Bush said the government believes that this legislation as it is now presented, more accurately targets the destructive fishing practices that the original amendment sought to address, that is the non-traditional taking of "small juvenile" fish from the shallow waters around our islands.