More Hurting on Poor Belizeans

The Ambergris Caye Tour Guide Association is petitioning that the Fisheries Department address the issue of controversy with a new piece of legislation that will affect all and every Belizean. The issue stems from a Statutory Instrument, SI number 115 of 2009 of the sports fishing regulation. This new SI came into effect a few weeks ago and the effects of this new SI went unnoticed by the media. Little did we know how critical this little bit of legislation would be, changing the traditional fishing norm in the entire country.

First it was believed that a fee would be charged for sport fishing of the permit, tarpon and bone fish – instead a fee is now charged right across the board. The new SI indicates that anyone with the intention to fish must apply for a fishing license. That means anyone, even those poor people who catch two or three fish to feed their family. Sounds like a joke but it is real; absolutely everyone must have a fishing license the minute you intend to throw a line into a body of water. The fees are $20 for one day, $50.00 for a week and $100.00 for a year. If caught without a license, the person faces criminal charges, either fined or confined a maximum of $5000.00 or six months in prison or both.

This means that if you are someone that wants to eat a river fish, you must have a license to catch that fish. If a group of people go in a boat and the captain of the boat has a fishing rod or a fishing line, everyone on that boat must have a license to fish. If you are the person who would normally be fishing from the river bank, a wharf, seaside, a creek or lagoon to feed your family, you must have a license.

What the heck is wrong with this government? Some people can hardly afford to pay their bills and the only way they can afford to put something on their table is to go catch a few fish for survival. This government is saying now that a poor individual must have a license to fish.

Nothing is wrong with introducing a law that regulates sports fishing.  In places like the US, it is common that one of the requirements to practice sport fishing is to have a fishing license. It is not a bad idea to do likewise in Belize, but to introduce a fishing license right across the board is just plain wrong. It is evidence that this government is looking at whichever way possible to put their hands on any kind of money. They are cash strapped to the point that they are willing to squeeze out the last dime out of the pockets of anyone that they can.

You see, if you go to places like Corozal, Stann Creek, Caye Caulker and San Pedro, many of the younger generation fish to distract their minds from the criminal elements in the community. In the process, they save their families some money by putting food on the table. I have many nephews and nieces and they enjoy spending time on the wharf fishing. I prefer them to do that than to be idle on the streets that are plagued with crime.

None of the technocrats knows the effect that this SI has on the poor man in San Mateo in San Pedro. They don’t care about how this will affect the poor fisherman in Copper Bank, Progresso, Santa Cruz, Libertad or the people living along the Belize River Valley.  All these people who catch fish for their survival will have to pay for a license.

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