Foreign fishing vessel licences

(1) A person shall not use a foreign fishing vessel for fishing in the fisheries waters unless the person holds a [valid] foreign fishing vessel licence there for authorizing the foreign fishing vessel to be used in the fisheries waters for such fishing as may be specified in the licence. (2) Sub-section (1) does not apply to any foreign fishing vessel used purely for the purpose of fisheries-related research in respect of which there is a [valid] authorization issued under this Act. Fisheries Resources [CAP. 210 39 (3) An application for a foreign fishing vessel licence shall be made, in the prescribed form and manner, to the Fisheries (4) Subject to the provisions of this Act and the Regulations, the Fisheries Administrator, after consultation with the Council, may issue a foreign fishing vessel licence. (5) Subject to sub-sections (6) and (7), a foreign fishing vessel licence shall not be issued to any foreign fishing vessel unless there is in force with the Government of the flag State of the vessel or with an association of which the owner or charterer is a member, an access agreement to which the Government of Belize is a party. (6) A foreign fishing vessel licence may be issued in respect of– (a) test-fishing operations; (b) a Belize based foreign fishing vessel, notwithstanding the absence of an access agreement otherwise required under sub-section (5). (7) Where the Minister determines that an agreement under sub-section (5) in respect of a foreign fishing vessel is not a practical requirement, he may issue a licence in respect of that vessel where the applicant provides sufficient financial and other guarantees relating to his fulfilment of all obligations arising under this Act. (8) Where a foreign fishing vessel is used in contravention of sub-section (1) or of any condition of a foreign fishing vessel licence, the master, owner and charterer of that vessel each commits an offence and each is liable on summary conviction to a fine not less than ten thousand dollars nor more than one hundred thousand dollars. 40 Fisheries Resources within the Belize fisheries waters