BELIZE NATIONAL FISHERIES ACT SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS March 2011 This publication was produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development. It was prepared by Dr. Patrick McConney, Mr. Adriel Casteñeda, and Wildlife Conservation Society. BELIZE NATIONAL FISHERIES ACT SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS Contract No.: EPP-I-00-04-0020-00 Task Order No. 5 Subcontract No.: EPP-I-05-04-0020-00-WCS Period of Performance: November 24, 2010 to September 15, 2014 The author’s views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Development or the United States Government. The author’s views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Development or the United States Government. CONTENTS List of Acronyms .................................................................................................................x Preface............................................................................................................................... xii Executive Summary ............................................................................................................1 Background to the Project ...................................................................................................3 A Brief Overview of the Fisheries Sector ............................................................................5 Near shore Wild Capture Fishery ....................................................................................... 5 Aquaculture ........................................................................................................................ 6 High Seas Fishing ............................................................................................................... 6 Applicable National Regime ................................................................................................7 Belize Constitution (CAP. 4) ...................................................................................7 Maritime Areas Act (CAP. 11) ................................................................................7 CARICOM-Related Legislation ..........................................................................................8 Caribbean Community (Movement of Factors) .......................................................9 Caribbean Court of Justice (Original Jurisdiction) Act .........................................10 Legislation Directly Concerning Fisheries ........................................................................10 Fisheries Act (1948) (CAP 210) ............................................................................10 Fisheries Regulations and Orders ..........................................................................14 Belize Fisheries Development Authority Act 2003 ................................................................................................15 High Seas Fishing Act ...........................................................................................15 Registration of Merchant Ships Act (CAP 236) ....................................................22 Other Legislation Impacting on the Fisheries Legislation .................................................24 Coastal Zone Management Act (CAP. 329) ............................................................24 Environmental Protection Act (CAP 328) ...............................................................25 Forests Act (CAP 213) .............................................................................................25 Wildlife Protection Act (CAP 220)..........................................................................26 National Parks System Act (CAP 215) ....................................................................27 Belize Port Authority Act (CAP. 233) .....................................................................27 Aquaculture Development Act ................................................................................28 Belize National Coast Guard Service Act ...............................................................29 Petroleum Act and Regulations & the Mines and Minerals Act and Regulations ...29 Belize Agricultural Health Authority Act (CAP. 211) ............................................30 Cooperative Societies Act (CAP. 313) ....................................................................31 Applicable International Legal Regime .............................................................................32 vi BELIZE NATIONAL FISHERIES ACT SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS Global treaties concerning fisheries ..........................................................................32 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea ............................................................32 The UN Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention ........................................................................................34 FAO Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas .........................36 FAO Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing ........................................36 Marine Mammals ......................................................................................................37 International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling ................................37 Multilateral Environmental Agreements ...................................................................37 Convention on Biological Diversity ................................................................37 The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora .....................................................................39 Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals........................................39 The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance..............................40 Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage ............................................................................................................40 Regional Environmental Agreements .......................................................................41 Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region .....................................41 Inter-American Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles ......................................................................42 Caribbean Community (CARICOM) ........................................................................43 Other Binding Instruments .................................................................................................45 International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions ............................................45 International Maritime Organization ........................................................................46 Regional Fisheries Bodies..................................................................................................47 CRFM Agreement .....................................................................................................47 SICA: OSPESCA and OLDEPESCA .......................................................................48 Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) ................................................49 Non-Binding Fisheries Instruments ...................................................................................50 FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.....................................................51 FAO International Plans of Action (IPOAs) .............................................................51 IPOA-Capacity .................................................................................................52 IPOA-Seabirds .................................................................................................52 IPOA-Sharks ....................................................................................................52 IPOA-IUU ........................................................................................................52 UN General Assembly Resolution .........................................................................53 Institutional Issues .............................................................................................................54 Overlapping Mandates and Functions ......................................................................54 BELIZE NATIONAL FISHERIES ACT SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS vii Possible solutions ......................................................................................................57 The Role of the Fisheries Advisory Board ......................................................58 Title of the Fisheries Advisory Board ..............................................................58 Sport Fishing ....................................................................................................59 A Specialist Judge for Maritime Matters .........................................................59 Some Areas Which Need Further Attention ....................................................59 Recommendations ..............................................................................................................60 Outline of Proposed Contents ............................................................................................62