Fisheries Council

(1) There is established an advisory body to be known as the which shall advise and make recommendations to the Minister on– (a) matters relating to the conservation, use and development of (b) the development and implementation of comprehensive fisheries policies; (c) the monitoring and review including the evaluation, of conservation guidelines and ecosystem-based management measures; (d) consideration and review of (e) coordination of policies with government and agencies 22 Fisheries Resources including joint venture agreements and investments in the fisheries sector; (f) matters coordination and cooperation; and (g) any other fisheries matter at the request of the Minister or as required under this Act. (2) The Council shall be comprised of the following members appointed by the Minister– (a) the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry responsible for fisheries who shall be the Chair; (b) the Chief Executive Officer of the Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute or his designate; (c) the Chief Environmental Officer or his designate; (d) the Senior Economist of the Ministry responsible for economic development or his designate; (e) the Chief Tourism Officer of the Ministry responsible for tourism or his designate; (f) two members selected from among the largest producing and registered fishing cooperatives; (g) two members selected from among the registered fishermen organizations; (h) one member representing a non-govemmental organization with an interest in the conservation and sustainable utilization of Fisheries Resources [CAP. 210 23 fisheries resources, the corporate headquarters of which is in Belize; (i) a person with expertise in fisheries science; (j) the (ex-officio member). (3) The Minister shall publish by Notice in the Gazette, the names of members and any changes in membership and composition of the Council as constituted under sub-section (2). (4) The Council may co-opt a person as the Council thinks fit by reason of any particular knowledge or skill, to assist the Council for a specific purpose, and the person co-opted shall not be entitled to vote on any question before the Council. (5) The quorum for a meeting of the Council shall be at least half of its members plus one, other than the Fisheries Administrator, who shall be present for the duration of the meeting. (6) Except for the determination of the quorum, the Council may regulate its own proceedings. (7) A person appointed under sub-section (2)(f), (g), (h) or (i) may be removed by the Minister from being a member of the (a) where he has engaged in misconduct in office; (b) where he has been absent without reasonable excuse from three consecutive meetings; (c) where he is deemed unfit to be a member whether by reason of infirmity of body or mind. 24 Fisheries Resources (8) A member of the Council shall disclose a conflict of interest in any matter that comes before the Council for deliberations and shall recuse himself from deliberations of the Council in respect of that matter in which that member has an interest.