76.7 F
Charlotte Amalie
Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesOFFICIALS AGREE ON EXPLAINING B.V.I. FISHING RULES

OFFICIALS AGREE ON EXPLAINING B.V.I. FISHING RULES

Oct. 6, 2003 – U.S. and British Virgin Islands officials have agreed on new procedures to ensure that U.S.V.I.-based boaters know B.V.I. fishing regulations and can easily comply with them.
The agreement comes with B.V.I. authorities having stepped up enforcement of regulations requiring foreign fishing vessels to obtain a license and registration before fishing in B.V.I. waters.
Criminal charges are pending against four U.S.V.I.-based fishermen who stand accused of illegally fishing in B.V.I. waters in two separate incidents.
According to a statement released last week by the B.V.I. government, the procedures were agreed upon during a Sept. 29 meeting between top-level B.V.I. and U.S.V.I. officials on Tortola.
The procedures include the following:
– In the case of sportfishing tournaments, the names or persons who will be on board foreign boats must be faxed to B.V.I. authorities 24 hours before their arrival in B.V.I. waters.
– The B.V.I. Customs Department will be responsible for clearing the vessels in and out of the territory. Customs would then advise the Conservation and Fisheries Department of a vessel's entry.
– Anglers are to be aware of the B.V.I.'s 12-mile territorial limit and its 200-mile exclusive economic zone. Once a vessel is within the B.V.I. 12-mile limit, the B.V.I. Customs Department must be alerted.
– Relevant sections of the B.V.I. Fisheries Regulations will be attached to sportfishing licenses. These sections relate to the catching and releasing of all billfish; the daily bag limit of 30 pounds per boat; the required keeping of logbooks; and submission of logbook information to the Conservation and Fisheries Department.
Sheila Brathwaite, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Natural Resources, led the B.V.I. delegation at the Sept. 29 meeting. Other B.V.I. participants included representatives of Customs, Conservation and Fisheries, the Immigration Department and the B.V.I. Fishing Complex.
The U.S.V.I. delegation consisted of George Goodwin, assistant to Gov. Charles W. Turnbull; Harry Clinton, executive director of V.I. Gamefishing Club, and other members of the club.
The meeting was a follow-up to one held on Aug. 11 in the B.V.I., according to the statement.

Back Talk

Share your reaction to this news with other Source readers. Please include headline, your name, and the city and state/country or island where you reside.

Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Keeping our community informed is our top priority.
If you have a news tip to share, please call or text us at 340-228-8784.

Support local + independent journalism in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Unlike many news organizations, we haven't put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as accessible as we can. Our independent journalism costs time, money and hard work to keep you informed, but we do it because we believe that it matters. We know that informed communities are empowered ones. If you appreciate our reporting and want to help make our future more secure, please consider donating.