Fisheries (Hol Chan Marine Reserve)(Amendment) Regulations, 1999 (S.I. No. 101 of 1999)

No. 101} BELIZE: Fisheries STATUTORY INSTRUMENT No. 101 of 1999 REGULATIONS made by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Cooperatives in exercise of the powers conf e"ed upon him by section 13 of the Fisheries Act, Chapter 17 4 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 1980-90, and all other powers thereunto him enabling. (Gazetted 18th September, 1999.) 1. These Regulations may be cited as the FISHERIES (HOL CHAN MARINE RESERVE) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS, 1999, and shall be read and construed as one with the Fisheries (Hol Chan Marine Reserve)-Regulations which, as amended, are hereinafter referred to <1s the principal Regulations. 2. Regulation 2 of the principal Regulations is hereby amended by deleting the definition of"Zone A", "Zone B" and "Zone C" and replacing it by the following: "'Zone A"· "ZoneB" "Zone C" and "Zone D" shall have ' ' the descriptions respectively assigned to them in the ScheduletotheFisheries(HolChanAreaMarineReserve) Order;'. 3. Regulation3 of the principal Regulations is hereby amended byrepealingsubregulation(I)andreplacingitwiththefollowing: 1 Short title. Sub. Leg. 1991 Edn. Vol. IV. CAP. 174 S.I. 170/1994 S.I. 35/1996. Amendment of Re,:ulatlon 2. Sub. Leg. 1991 Edn. Vol. IV CAP. 174 P. 5. Amenclment of Re1ulation 3. 2 Addition of new" Reiulatlon 8A. Fisheries {No. 101 "(I) For the purpose of proper control and regulation of the Reserve there are hereby created four zones within the Reserve to be called: (a) Zone A; (b) ZoneB; (c) Zone C; and (d) ZoneD." 4. The principal Regulations are hereby amended by the addition of a new Regulation 8A immediately after Regulation 8 as follows: "Additional Rules for Zone D. 8A. This area shall be protected as a multi-purpose use zone and the following additional rules shall apply to Zone D: (a) there shall be within this zone a "General Use Area" which shall be protected as follows: (i) commercial fishing shall be allowed in all of Zone D except in the exclusive recreational areas of "Shark Ray Alley" and "Amigos Del Mar Dive Wreck"; (ii) fishermen wno use Zone D shall submit catch data upon request by the staff of the Reserve; (iii) fishermen who use Zone D shall obtain the Hol Chan Marine Reserve stamp on their fishing licences; (iv) no gloves shall be allowedinZoneD; and (v) lhe down-under diver's flag shall be displayed at all times by tour guiding vessels; No. 101) Fisheries 3 (b) there shall be within this zone "Exclusive Recreation Areas" which shall be orotected as follows: (i) special marker buoys shall demarcate the boundaries of the exclusive recreation areas, and these areas shall be comprised of the area a.t "Shark Ray Alley" and the other area outside the reef at the" Amigos Del Mar Dive Wreck"; (ii) no fishing shall be allowed in the exclusive recreation areas; (iii) no feeding of fish by tourists shall be allowed in the exclusive recreation areas; (iv) no touching of flora or fauna shall be allowed in the exchisiverecreation areas; (v) no scuba diving sllall be allowed in Shark Ray Alley except for research purposes under a special licence issued by the Fisheries Administrator in that behalf; (vi) commercial, recreational vessels shall be allowed to stayiri the exclusive recreation areas for periods of not more than one hour at any· one time, and only if there are in that area mooring buoys available; (vii) commerc1a1 recreattonal vessels withm the exclusive recreation areas shall first report to the Ranger on duty before engaging in any water-related activities; (viii) down-under divers flags shall be displayed at all times; and Belizeans $1 00 per person per dayBelizeans $1.00 per person per day 4 Amendment of Regulation 11. Fisheries /No. 101 (ix) no fishing gear shall be allowed on board any commercial recreational vessel except fins and masks." 5. Regulation 11 of the principal Regulations is hereby amended by repealing subregulation (2) and replacing it with the following: "(2) Admission to the Reserve shall be on payment of the followingfeesfortourists, Belizeans and commercial recreational vessels: (a) Zones A,B,C Fee (b) (c) 1. Tourist ........ $5.00 per person per day 2. Belizeans ........ $2.00 per person per day 3. Commercial Recreational Vessels ........ $10.00pervesselperannum Zone D Fee 1. Tourists ........ $7.00 per person per day 2. 3. Commerc1a1 Recreational Vessels. . ······:·$10. 00 per vessel per annum Zones B & {; (for sport fishing) I.Tourists ......... $5.00 per day per person 2. Belizeans ......... $2.50 per day per person J:-Commercial-·· ;Recreational Vessels .......... :$10.00 per vessel per annum: No. 101] Fisheries Provided that no fees shall be charged: (a) to any child below the age of twelve years; (b) to Belizeans who enter the Reserve on Sundays, unless that day falls on a Public or Bank holiday, in which case the normal fees shall be charged." 6. The Fisheries (Hol Chan Marine Reserve) (Amendment) Regulations, 1999, are hereby repealed. 7. These Regulations shall come into force on the 31st day of August, 1999. (DANIEL SIL VA) Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Cooperatives 5 Repeals S.I. No. 35/1996. Commencement