Fisheries Resources (Jurisdiction and Conservation) Act, 1977 (Cap. 244).

This Act consists of 24 sections and 1 Schedule. Definitions are set out in section 2. Under section 4, an exclusive fishery zone is established the outer limit of which is a line drawn in such a manner that any point on it is two hundred miles from the baseline from which the territorial sea is measured. Within the exclusive fishery zone, the Act asserts the sovereign rights and exclusive authority of The Bahamas, for the purpose of exploring, exploiting, conserving and managing the fishery of the seabed and subsoil and superjacent waters (sect. 6). Foreign fishing is prohibited within the exclusive fishery zone unless: a) it is authorized by virtue of a treaty; b) it is authorized by the Minister and is conducted by a vessel owned by or operated by an international organization of which The Bahamas is a member; c) is authorized by the Minister and is conducted for scientific or research purposes; d) is conducted for sporting purposes. Where treaty is entered into with a foreign state, allocation to that state of part of the allowable level of foreign fishing may be subject to conditions that take into account relevant environmental and economic factors such as the maintenance of fish stock, the granting of access to the market of that foreign state of the fishery resources and fishery products harvested by the fishermen of The Bahamas (sect. 10(d)). The power of declaring protected areas within the exclusive fishery zone is vested in the Minister (sect. 13). Enforcement power is described under sections 14, 15, 16 and 17. A list of particulars upon which the Minister may make regulation is set out in section 19. Offences and penalties are addressed in sections 20 to 24. The Schedule provides for provisions relating to forfeiture and notice of seizure.