Sport fishing licenses, fees to be introduced by CZMA

The next time you throw a fishing line into the sea you may want to think twice because it may cost you money even if you don’t catch anything. Well, The Coastal Zone Management Agency has been mandated to issue Sport Fishing licenses and collect Sport Fishing license fees. The good news is that it won’t affect people who are recreationally throwing a line from a pier but it will cost twenty dollars per day to go out at sea and fish. But if you own a boat and can afford the fuel, perhaps twenty dollars won’t be an issue. The regulation is expected to tax dedicated anglers and hotels which take vacationers on the seas to catch large game. The regulation will be enforced by the Fisheries Department and the Belize Coast Guard. The Coastal Zone Management Agency plans to consult with stakeholders to address possible issues and also to inform them of the process of how to obtain a license and pay the fees.