Fishery management plans

(1) The Minister, in consultation, with the Council, may determine whether there is a requirement for a management plan or management plans in respect of each fishery or category of (2) The Fisheries Administrator shall prepare and keep under review a management plan or plans in respect of each fishery or category of fisheries as determined by the Minister under sub-section (1). (3) A fisheries management plan shall– (a) identify and address trends in the biological, economic and social characteristics of the fishery, including issues requiring special attention; (b) identify the target and other fish stocks, and management objectives for each fishery; (c) address the proposed conservation, management and development measures to be Fisheries Resources [CAP. 210 25 applied to the fishery with due regard to the performance of historical measures; (d) determine the fishery or amount of the fishery resources to be made available to licence holders managed under a managed access fishing rights system or to which co- management under section 13 may apply; (e) specify the research, information and other data required to be given or reported for the enhanced, effective and development of the fisheries; (f) take into account any users of fishing areas, fishing methods and principles; (g) describe the processes and indicators for management and measuring management performance; (h) make provision in relation to any other matter necessary for sustainable use of fishery resources; and (i) the Fisheries Administrator may make provision for further contents to be included in a fisheries management plan required under this section. (4) In preparing a fisheries management plan, the Fisheries Administrator shall– (a) submit the proposed management plan to the for its review and recommendations; 26 Fisheries Resources (b) ensure consultation or participation of stakeholders in the preparation and review of a fisheries management plan; (c) publish the following information by Notice in the Gazette and in two national newspapers with wide circulation in Belize– (i) the public offices where copies of the proposed fisheries management plan are to be made available for consultation by the public; (ii) an invitation to stakeholders to submit written or oral comments on the proposed fisheries management plan within a specified period of time, not less than two months nor more than four months from the date the notice is published; (iii) the dates and places where public meetings are to be held within the period of time specified under sub- paragraph (ii) to allow the public to submit comments. (5) A fisheries management plan is valid for a period, as approved, which may not exceed five years and may, subject to the provisions of this section, be reviewed or extended by the (6) Where a review of a fisheries management plan recommends amendments to the plan, the Administrator shall consult with the Council, prior to submission to the Minster, and the Council may recommend– (a) the requirement for public consultation; or Fisheries Resources [CAP. 210 27 (b) adoption of management plan. (7) The Fisheries Administrator shall submit to the Minister for approval, a proposed fisheries management plan or proposed amendment thereto, as approved by the Council for adoption, who shall make a decision thereon within thirty days of the submission. (8) Upon approval of a fisheries management plan, the Minister shall cause Notice thereof to be published in the Gazette. (9) Where the Minister establishes, after consultation with the Council, that a fisheries management plan is not required for a particular fishery, the Minister shall further cause to be established management measures for that particular fishery, consistent with principles of this Act.