Due to over fishing primarily by American sports fisherman (resulting in stock depletion), the Bahamian Government drafted a set of rules effective January 2007. As intended, they primarily affect those fishing aboard a U.S. registered vessel. There will be little impact on the casual tourist who hires a Bahamian guide or fishes off a rental boat. The 2007 rules were revised with a new set to take effect in 2008. These are detailed below.
The Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources, the Hon. Lawrence Cartwright, announced restriction on the harvesting, possession and selling of Nassau Grouper during the period from 15th December 2007 to 28th February 2008. While that is outside our cruise dates, checking on any last minute revisions or extensions would be wise.
The Government of the Bahamas, Department of Marine Resources revised fishing regulations as of November 14, 2007 for foreign boaters in the Bahamas. Regulation 48 now reads:
1. A person shall fish by the traditional method of angling with a hook or lure attached to a line held in the hand or attached to a pole, rod or reel;
2. A person, unless otherwise authorized by the respective permit, shall not use a spear, a fish trap, or a net other than a landing net;
3. Each vessel shall use not more than six (6) rods or reels unless the operator is in possession of a permit authorizing the use of more rods or reels;
4. A total maximum of any pelagic species or migratory fishery resource can consist of no more than Eighteen (18) fish of any kind per vessel. (Kingfish, Dolphin, Tuna or Wahoo etc.) Any resource not intended to be used, shall not be injured unnecessarily but be returned to the sea alive.
5. A vessel shall have on board a maximum of only six conch (see below), sixty pounds or twenty fish of any demersal fishery resources (groupers, snappers, etc.) and at any time, and not more than ten crawfish/spiny lobster per vessel. Turtles are forbidden for capture and possession by foreigners.
The original set of rules included the statement: "Any resource intended for use must not be cleaned (remove the head, tail, fillet) until the fish is finally landed on the mainland (not including piers, jetties) and no longer transported by boat".
Additionally, many species have specific closed seasons during mating times such as spiny lobster - closed April 1st - July 31st. and recently added, Nassau Grouper see above.
The general public is advised that the Queen Conch (conch) is considered to be an endangered species throughout much of its range within the wider Caribbean area, including The Bahamas. The Government, in an effort to ensure the continued sustainability of local conch stocks, has decided to prohibit the harvesting of the species by foreign boaters (interpreted to mean foreigners - so don't be in the possession of even one conch unless you have a receipt from a Bahamian.)
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