AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums The Cayes Ambergris Caye Fishing License

anybody got the final answer?

NO LICENSE,YET ???????????????? NONE WAS NEEDED IN FEB ,LETS SEE NEXT WEEK IF I NEED A LICENSE.

The only fishing license needed on AC is for this chat site.

I wonder if you just "Chum" (Sardine for our Belizian friends) and use a spear gun from inside a boat if you still need a license.

Hi guys. This is my first post on this forum. The subject of sport fishing licences is one I as a resort owner on the mainland have been investigating for some time now. So as many posters are asking questions, I hope you will allow me to answer at least some of them. I am not a lawyer, nor I hope a smart arse, but I can read.
Statutary Instrument 115 regulates the Sport Fishing Licence which became law on September 14th 2009 FACT
The interesting clause is Clause 8, which reads Quote" a person is deemed to be engaged in sportfishing if he is on a boat or engaged or employed on a boat while in use or equiped for sport fishing in the waters of Belize" UNQUOTE.
I have been told to my face in a meeting with Coastal Zone Management Authority that for the moment the law must be obeyed AS IT IS.
If you read the Clause 8 carefully it is quite clear that EVERYONE on the boat must have a Sportfishing licence. I asked if this included non-fishing people, and I was told YES everybody. I further asked if this included children again YES at any age because that is what the law says "if you are on a boat while engaged or equiped..."
That also of course means that the captain (tour guide)on your boat also needs a SFL, and also deckhands if applicable
I asked why the Fisheries Department want EVERYONE to have a licence and the answer was that it is easier for the patrol vessel to enforce!
Clause 8 goes on to say Quote" a person is deemed to be engaged in Sport fishing if he is engaged or equipped to fish any of the fish species as designated by the Fisheries Administrator for the purpose of sport fishing.
I asked what this meant, and I was told this means you need a SFL even fishing from the shore or a dock.
The "fish species list as designated by the Fisheries Administrator" also makes interesting reading.
Permit, bonefish and tarpon are not on the list, so as long as you wade from the shore to the flat you will not need a SFL. If you go by boat you will need a licence!
This law is a complete nonesense and is quite unenforceable as it stands.
I was also told by Coastal zone there is an advisory committee looking into this. However I have checked with "people who would know" who tell me this is not so. So if someone knows better please share your thoughts with us.
Oh and by the way Belizeans and residents exempt? Oh no. this applies to everyone, man woman and child, American Canadian Chinese, everyone.
The charges are (Reg 3(c) BZ$20 per day, BZ$50 per week or BZ$100 per year, and are available (they say) by e mail at Coastal Zone. i am applying for tickets for our first guests next week.

Chris as Resort Owner , you may want to focus on the penalty fee (just in case/ probably cheaper than license) ! This is obviously not a big deal at this time .These types of laws are modified and fixed , after laws are past. Hopefully you dont have an endeavor that will ride heavily on the changes ,when they do decide to enforce .
Caribbean is kinda a goofy , but ; fun place . Lets try to get a couple more months of fishing in, before ;we have to purchase a license . I could use the extra cash to buy dinner after fishing . I am not being a smart @ss ,just living the dream .

Well another move by some not to smart people who are greedy for more money from the gringo tourists ..This is silly and not thought out ..The airfare is crazy to belize .there is a very big drop in people comming here ,I know it is A poor country but It will hurt the guides and hotels at At a time when then need to bring in more business ,while the fees are not very much AS I CAN GET A YEAR PASS ..I feel it still Will have a impact here And can not do any good As the money will be just another cash cow for a few greedy people and not work it's way down to the people who need it ....CHRIS 45 THANKS FOR THIS REPORT,AS SAD AS IT IS ..
AND TIM STOP STEALING MY SAYING LOL..

Tim, according to SI 115, the penalty for a first offence is $500 or 6months in jail or both.
I think we will obey the letter of the law at my resort, stupid though it may be.

Fishing licences are required in most of the US and most provinces and territories in Canada (hunting as well). What's the big deal? Why should Belize be any different? You're getting a break on your land tax (as compared to the US or Canada)so buy a licence and be happy. Bad timing though....

Not certain how common it is around the rest of the coastal US or Canadian maritimes, but recreational salt water fishing here in Maine is license free............just anecdotal, not promoting.