High Seas Fishing Act.

The Act makes provision for implementation in Belize of the Agreement to promote Compliance with the International Conservation and Management Measures by Fishing Vessels on the High Seas adopted by the Conference of the FAO in 1993, and other matters relating to fishing by Belize fishing vessels in the marine waters beyond the territorial sea, archipelagic waters, fisheries zone or exclusive economic zone of any state.
The Act consists of 20 sections divided into 7 Parts: Preliminary (I); Administration (II); Licensing of Fishing Vessels on the High Seas (III); International Cooperation (IV); Enforcement (V); Prohibitions and Offences (VI); Regulations (VII).
The Fisheries Administrator (i.e. the Head of the Fisheries Department) shall be responsible for: (a) the issue, etc. of licenses for fishing on the high seas: (b) maintaining a record of all fishing vessels in respect of high seas fishing licenses that have been issued under this Act and keeping of other records for statistical purposes; (c) carrying out other functions listed in section 3. No Belize fishing vessel shall fish on the high seas without a valid license issued under this Act (sect. 4). Section 5 sets out conditions for eligibility of flagged fishing vessels to obtain a High Seas Fishing licence. Substantially the vessel must not be owned, operated or chartered by persons who have previously undermined the effectiveness of international conservation and management measures. A High Seas Fishing License shall be issued by the Fisheries Administrator to the master, owner, or charterer in respect of a specified fishing vessel. The issuing of a High Seas Fishing License shall be at the discretion of the Minister on the recommendation of the Fisheries Administrator and the Director-General and Senior Deputy Registrar of International Merchant Marine Registry of Belize (IMMARBE). The Fisheries Administrator shall not issue a Belize High Seas Fishing License unless he is satisfied that Belize will be able to exercise effectively its responsibilities under the Agreement in respect of that vessel. Conditions may be attached to the licence in accordance with section 7. A licence is made out in principal for one year but may be revoked where, upon the recommendation of IMMARBE, it appears to the Fisheries Administrator that it is necessary or expedient to do so for the conservation or management of living marine resources in the high seas (sects. 8 and 9). Sections 10 and 11 provide for international cooperation by IMMARBE. No Belize fishing vessel shall engage in any activity on the high seas that undermines the effectiveness of international conservation and management measures. Activities that fall within this category may be prescribed by the Minister (sect. 16). (completed by 1 Schedule)