Fishing Industry Act, 1975.

This Act regulates fishing activities in Jamaica. No distinction is made between freshwater and maritime fishing.
The Act consists of 29 provisions divided into 5 Parts: Preliminary (sects. 1-2); Fishing licences (sects. 3-7); Registration and Licensing of Boats (sects. 8-17); Fishery Protection (sects. 18-23A); General (sects. 24-29).
No person shall engage in fishing in Jamaica, using any of the fishing methods specified in the Schedule to this Act or, if a citizen of Jamaica, fish outside of Jamaica in areas as may be prescribed, without a valid licence (sect. 3). Certain persons may be exempted by the Minister by Order. The Minister shall also designate a public officer as Licensing Authority (sect. 4). No specific mention is made of the licensing of foreign vessels. Sections 8 to 17 provide in detail for the licensing and registration of boats and matters related to the licensing of boats such as the change of ownership. Again no distinction is made between local and foreign boats. The Minister may declare fish sanctuaries (sect. 18) and close seasons (sect. 19). Section 22 has been amended in 1991. Section 22 declares it to be an offence to unlawfully removing, taking away, or having in his possession of any boat, fish-pot, net, gear or other fishing equipment belonging to some other person, or destroying, damaging, displacing or altering the position of such boat, fish-pot, net, gear, or other fishing equipment or of any buoy, float or other mark connected thereto. The Act prescribes a penalty for landing and sale of illegally caught fish.