! ! "#$%&'($)&'*'(!+*,)&%*&,!-.'.(&/&'$!*'!012! 134'$%*&,"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Final Technical Report SUPPORT TO UPDATE THE FISHERIES REGULATIONS IN BELIZE REFERENCE: CAR/1.2/3B Country: Belize 29 November 2013 Assignment implemented by Poseidon Aquatic Resources Management i Project Funded by the European Union. “This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of ”name of the author” and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.” “The content of this document does not necessarily reflect the views of the concerned governments.” SUPPORT TO UPDATE THE FISHERIES REGULATIONS IN BELIZE Contents CONTENTS .......................................................................................................................................... I! LIST OF TABLES, FIGURES AND PHOTOGRAPHS .................................................................................. II! LIST OF APPENDICES ......................................................................................................................... III! ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ..................................................................................................................... IV! ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ..................................................................................................... V! EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...................................................................................................................... VI! 1.! BACKGROUND .............................................................................................................................. 1! 2.! APPROACH TO THE ASSIGNMENT ........................................................................................ 1! 3.! COMMENTS ON TERMS OF REFERENCES ........................................................................... 5! 4.! ORGANISATION AND METHODOLOGY ................................................................................ 5! b) Description of activities carried out .................................................................................... 7! Project Funded by the European Union A project implemented by Poseidon ARM Ltd !"#$% SUPPORT TO UPDATE THE FISHERIES REGULATIONS IN BELIZE List of tables, figures and photographs Tables Table 1 - Delivery of Terms of Reference ................................................................................. 5! Figures Figure 1 – Illustration of "state of play" of proposed new regulatory measures ........................ 4! Photographs See Appendix 5 Project Funded by the European Union A project implemented by Poseidon ARM Ltd !"#$%% SUPPORT TO UPDATE THE FISHERIES REGULATIONS IN BELIZE List of Appendices Appendix 1 Terms of Reference (original version) Appendix 2 Itinerary, institutions and individuals consulted Appendix 3 Inception Report Appendix 4 List of reports and documents consulted Appendix 5 Photographs of project key activities and events Appendix 6 6A Technical Methodology 6B Draft Fisheries (Conservation) Regulations 6C Draft Fisheries (Licensing, Management and Control) Regulations 6D Draft Fisheries (Marine Reserve) Order 6E Draft Fisheries (Marine Reserve) Regulations 6F Draft Fisheries (High Seas Sanctions) Regulations 6G Report of the Community Consultations 6H Report of the National Review Workshop 6I Report of the Senior Staff Review Workshop 6J Presentation – Community Consultations 6K Presentation – National Review Workshop Project Funded by the European Union A project implemented by Poseidon ARM Ltd !"#$%%% SUPPORT TO UPDATE THE FISHERIES REGULATIONS IN BELIZE Acknowledgements The Consultant wishes to thank the Fisheries Administrator, Ms Beverly Wade, and all the senior staff in the Fisheries Department who contributed helpfully and efficiently both to project organisation and technical inputs. Particular thanks if given to the core team members who assisted with the Community Consultations and National Workshop – Mr George Myvett (Deputy Administrator), Mr Ramon Carcamo, Mr Mauro Gongora, Mr Rigoberto Quintana and Mr Lyndon Rodney. Particular thanks is also expressed to Mr Julio Maaz (WDS), who facilitated the workshop organisation. In addition, thanks are expressed to all other members of staff of the Fisheries Department who assisted and participated in the project, and to all stakeholders attending the workshops, who participated constructively and actively. Finally, the Consultant also wishes to acknowledge the assistance and support of Dr Sandra Grant in project implementation. Project Funded by the European Union A project implemented by Poseidon ARM Ltd !"#$%& SUPPORT TO UPDATE THE FISHERIES REGULATIONS IN BELIZE Abbreviations and acronyms ACP ............... Africa, Caribbean and Pacific CRFM ............ Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism CU ................. Coordinating Unit EEZ ................ Exclusive Economic Zone EU .................. European Union FAO ............... Food and Agriculture Organization FD .................. Fisheries Department FTR ................ Final Technical Report IR ................... Inception Report IUU ................ Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing KE .................. Key Expert MCS .............. Monitoring, Control and Surveillance NGO .............. Non-Governmental Organisation RFU ............... Regional Facilitation Unit VMS .............. Vessel Monitoring System Project Funded by the European Union A project implemented by Poseidon ARM Ltd !"#$& SUPPORT TO UPDATE THE FISHERIES REGULATIONS IN BELIZE Executive summary 1. This report (the Final Technical Report) presents the work and results of the project Support to update the Fisheries Regulations in Belize. The overall purpose and results to be achieved by the Project are recalled as follows: • the purpose is to update the fisheries regulations to strengthen the capacity of the Fisheries Administration in managing marine and inland fisheries; and • the results to be achieved include: o completion of a technical review and stakeholder consultations; o completion of a validation workshop to review the draft regulations; and o updated draft regulations to be presented to the Fisheries Department. Methodology 2. The consultations indicated at an early stage three main objectives or tasks involved in reviewing and updating the regulations: Consolidation (and simplification), so as to produce a single set of coherent and easy to use regulations; Consistency with the new Act, for example by referencing the right authority or procedure, and by utilizing the same terminologies, etc.; and Updating to add new policy and management measures, according to instructions received from the Fisheries Department. 3. At an early stage it was recognised that some significant adaptations in the proposed implementation methodology and activities would be required to meet the existing needs of the Fisheries Department. Key issues included the fluid state of the draft Fisheries Act (with new versions appearing during the project, and competences for certain policy areas being moved); the relatively early state of some policy proposals for the new regulations (and the need to further examine consistency with the new Act); the existence of a related review process to be carried out by FAO; etc. Consequently, an adapted approach was presented and agreed, but consistent with the fulfilment of the original terms of reference. Activities 4. The Project commenced in June. A preparatory meeting took place with the Fisheries Department on 13 June, and the first mission took place from 17 June – 6 July. Two further missions were organized, from 22 August to 13 September and from 30 September to 9 October. 5. The following key events were organised: a. Community Consultations were organised successfully in Sarteneja, San Pedro, Caye Caulker, Belize City, Hopkins, Placencia, Independence Village/Mango Creek and Punta Gorda. Approximately 300 persons attended the workshops, representing a wide cross section of the stakeholders including fisher folk, NGO's, sport fishermen, persons involved in tourism, members of the village council board, representatives from Fishermen cooperatives, and in numbers representing around 10% of all stakeholders. Project Funded by the European Union A project implemented by Poseidon ARM Ltd !"#$&% SUPPORT TO UPDATE THE FISHERIES REGULATIONS IN BELIZE b. National Review Workshop. A National Review Workshop was organised on 12 September, attended by over 60 stakeholders, mainly from the fishing sector but also including governmental and non-governmental stakeholders. In line with the agreed methodology, the national workshop focussed primarily on fishing community/industry and sought to review proposals on some key issues, as well as carry out a validation exercise in relation to the Fisheries Conservation Regulations. c. Senior Staff Review Workshop. A Senior Staff Review Workshop was organised, attended by 15 senior members of staff from the Fisheries Department and NGOs, as well as by Ms Karine Erikstein from FAO. The draft Regulations were reviewed in detail, and comments were provided by the Fisheries Department staff. Draft Regulations 6. The following draft Regulations were produced: a. Draft Fisheries Conservation Regulations, dealing with the technical conservation measures