High Seas Fishing Act, 2013 (No. 26 of 2013).

The Act makes provision for management of fisheries operations on the high seas and the conservation of marine fish resources. The fundamental objectives of this Act are: (a) to promote long term conservation and management, and sustainable use of marine resources on the high seas; (b) to implement the FAO Agreement to Promote Compliance with International Conservation and Management Measures by fishing vessels on the high seas 1993; (c) to implement the United Nations Agreement for the Implementation of the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks; and (d) to establish a system for the regulation of Belize flagged high seas fishing vessels which operate outside the territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone of Belize. The Act shall apply: (a) to all Belize flagged high seas vessels which engage in fishing or fishing related activities; (b) to any Belize flagged fishing vessel and any act or omission occurring on or by such a vessel wherever that vessel may be; and (c) to any act or omission by an authorized officer on board a Belize flagged high seas fishing vessel.
The Act consists of 56 sections divided into 9 Parts: Preliminary (I); Administration (II); Fisheries Conservation, Management and Development (III); Licences (IV); Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (V); Miscellaneous (VI); Sanctions and Disciplinary Actions (VII); Power to Make Regulations (VIII); General (IX).
The Belize High Seas Fisheries Unit (BHSFU), is established by this Act under the Ministry of Finance. BHSFU shall be specifically responsible for the regulation and control of high seas fishing pursuant to this Act. The Act sets out in detail the functions and powers of the BHSFU. It also assigns certain regulatory powers to the Registrar of Merchant Shipping.
In general, no Belize flagged vessel shall be used for fishing or fishing related activities on the high seas or in the jurisdiction of another State unless the vessel has on board a valid high seas fishing license and relevant fishing permissions from other States as may be necessary. The Act provides with respect to licensing of fishing activities on the high seas and imposes various obligations on fishing vessels. The Act also provides for specific authorization of transshipment. Any person who undertakes transshipment activities: (a) without an authorization; or (b) in breach of any condition of an authorization or of a relevant fishing license; or (c) at a place other than an approved port; is guilty of a serious violation against this Act. In accordance with Article VI of the Compliance Agreement, information on all vessels that have been issued with a fishing license pursuant to this Act shall be made readily available to the FAO.