BELIZE CITY, Mon. Dec. 6, 2021– The Fisheries Department found over 10 different gill nets, which were confiscated during an operation near a location north of the mouth of the Sibun River, in the Robinson Point area. The sack of gill nets was found in the waters designated as Fisheries territory, which, by virtue of SI 158 is strictly prohibited.

The Fisheries Department continues to carry out these operations across the coastal marine waters of Belize where gill nets were banned last November by the outgoing UDP administration. More than a year later, a number of seizures are still being conducted by the Department and Belize Coast Guard officials. Those nets are being taken away from both local fishermen and foreigners encroaching in our national waters.

In a release issued by the Fisheries Department, they reminded the public that the gill net ban does not apply to inland waters. Fishers who choose to use the gear to fish, however, must first acquire a license from the department to do so, according to the Fisheries Resources Act.

It is illegal to have gill nets anywhere in the waters designated as “Fisheries” territory. All fisherfolk are reminded that no mesh of any size or length is allowed for the purpose of fishing in our coastal marine waters.

Gill nets continue to play a major role in overfishing and cause the depletion of fish stock and killing off of juvenile species indiscriminately. In Belize, the signing of the Blue Bond means an additional cracking down on illegal and unsustainable fishing within the country.