Marine Conservation (Turtle Protection) (Amendment) Regulations, 1985

('itutiot1. Rt>vocation and ,ub~titution of r.4 MARINE CONSERVATION LAW, 1978 (LAW NO. 19 OF 1978) THE MARINE CONSERVATION (TURTLE PROTECTION) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS, 1985 In exercise of the powers conferred upon the Governor by section 24 of the Marine Conservation Law, 1978, the following Regulations are hereby made 1. These Regulations may be cited as the Marine Conservation (Turtle Protection) (Amendment) Regulations, 1985. 2. Regulation 4 of the Marine Conservation (J'urtle Protection) Regulations, 1978 is herel)y revoked and the following new regulations substituted th~refor "Closed season for turtles Law 21 of1978 Illegal possession of turtles 4. Any person who takes, disturbs or molests in any way or attempts to take, disturb or molest in any way any turtle during the months May to October in any year shall be guilty of an offence: Provided that this regulation shall not apply to a turtle bred in captivity by the holder of a licence in respect of turtles under the Endangered Species Protection and Propagation Law, 1978. 5. Any person who is not licensed by the Board under regulation 6, in respect of turtles, or the Endangered Licensing of traditional fishing Proc. 5 of 1977 Tagging by licencees Inspection of turtles Species Protection and Propagation Law, 1978 who has a turtle in his possession shall be guilty of an offence. 6. ( 1 ) The Board may grant licences to fishermen who have traditionally taken turtles within the Cayman Fisheries Zone by traditional methods to take turtles within the Cayman Fisheries Zone by such traditional methods for consumption within the Islands. ( 2) Licences under sub regulation ( 1) shall be issued only to persons normally resident in the Cayman Islands and each such licence shall be subject to the following conditions (a) it shall be issued annually and sha 11 specify the maximum number of turtles which may be taken within such year; (b) it shall prohibit the taking of turtles by means of harpoon or spear gun; and ( c) it shall specify the minimum size of turtles which may be taken. 7. Every turtle taken by the holder of a licence shall, immediately after taking, have attached to it one of the tags which shall be issued to such holder by the Board, and if any person whether licensed or not has in his possession a turtle untagged in cont'rave;ntion of this Regulation such person shall be guilty of an offence. 8. Any 1 i cence holder or other person who slaughters or injures a Failure to return tag Penalties turtle before such turtle has been inspected by a fisheries officer and before such fisheries officer has checked and recorded the details of the licence under which such turtle has been taken, the weight and sex of such turtle, the area and date of capture of such turtle and the number of the tag upon such turtle shall be guilty of an offence. 9. Any licence holder who having lawfully slaughtered or otherwise disposed of a turtle fails forthwith to return a tag to a fisheries officer shall be guilty of an offence. 10. Any person guilty of an offence and under these Regulations shall be liable on conviction of a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to a term ofimprisonment not exceeding twelve months or to both such fine and imprisonment. Made by Governor-in~Council this 12th day of April, 1985. MONA N. JACKSON for Clerk of Executive Council.