Saint Kitts and Nevis

An Act to provide for the conservation, management, development and sustainable use of fisheries, aquaculture and marine resources of Saint Christopher and Nevis, to monitor and control Saint Christopher and Nevis fishing vessels beyond the fisheries waters, to repeal the Fisheries Act 1984 and for related matters.

21. Fishing and related activities may be subject to prohibition. (1) Notwithstanding section 3, this section applies to all persons, vessels, fishing and related activities within the scope of this Act. (2) The Minister may prohibit any of the activities referred to in subsection (3) by Order in the Gazette. (3) Any Order made under subsection (2) may wholly or partially prohibit- (a) fishing- (i) at all times or during a specified period from any specified area of fisheries waters, and the possession of such fish during the specified period or in the specified area; (ii) for fish that are not of a specified size or dimension; (iii) for a designated species of fish; (iv) using a specified method or gear; (v) by persons other than a specified class of persons; (vi) by vessels other than a specified class or number of vessels; ... (c) a person from having in his or her possession or charge fishing gear or equipment, including fish aggregating devices and associated electronic equipment, of a specified kind, size or quantity;

["fishing gear" is defined to include, among other items:] ... line, float, trap, hook, hookah gear, scuba gear, winch, boat, craft or aircraft [used in fishing or related activities].

63. Licences, authorisations required. (1) No person shall engage in any of the following activities without a valid and applicable licence or authorisation issued in accordance with this Act - (a) fishing or using a fishing vessel for fishing or related activities in the fisheries waters, including diving for commercial fishing purposes, commercial sport fishing and recreational fishing; ... (2) Any person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding the maximum amount described in the Second Schedule or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 5 years, or to both.

20. Marine Management Area. (1) The Minister may, on the recommendation of the Director, declare a Marine Management Area by Order in the Gazette for the purposes of establishing priority zones within such Area. (2) The Minister may, on the recommendation of the Director, declare the following priority zones within such Marine Management Area by Order in the Gazette: (a) no-take zone, where conservation and management measures may prohibit any activity involving fishing or removing living or non-living resources from the zone; (b) conservation zone, where conservation and management measures may apply in relation to living or non-living marine resources; (c) fisheries zone, where fishing and related activities may be regulated; ... (6) No person shall engage, or permit or allow any other person to engage in any activity that: (a) is prohibited under a declaration made pursuant to subsection (2); (b) is prohibited under a conservation and management measure or other provision having the force of law adopted for the area; ...

30. Declaration of and prohibition relating to protected or endangered species. (1) The Minister may, on the advice of the Director and in consultation with the Department of Environment, by Order in the Gazette, declare as protected or endangered any fish - (a) that are designated as protected or endangered under an international agreement; or (b) that the Director recommends be declared as protected or endangered, based on the best available scientific evidence. (2) No person shall take, land, sell, deal in, transport, receive, buy, possess, import or export any fish or fish product declared as protected or endangered in accordance with this section.