SELECTED BVI LAWS & LEGISLATION
By no means is this list all inclusive of the laws governing the marine resources of the British Virgin Islands. The VI Government is working towards strengthening existing environmental legislation, policies and increasing the number of Protected Areas. This page will be updated as those are passed through Cabinet. If there are any laws you are wondering about, contact us and we can add it to the page.
Laws protecting coral reefs & seagrass beds
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ANCHORING, FISHING, USING A MOORING WITHOUT A PERMIT, COMMERCIAL FILMING OR REMOVING ARTIFACTS from the RMS Wreck of the Rhone Marine Park is strictly prohibited
(Marine Parks & Prohibited Areas Regulations, 1991) |
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TAKE, COLLECT, POSSESS OR DAMAGE coral, sponge or algae is illegal unless you contact the Government's Chief Conservation & Fisheries Officer and he provided you with written permission
[VI Fishery Regulations, 2003; Part IV, Sec. 28.(1)] IF YOU ARE TRAVELLING THROUGH THE US VIRGIN ISLANDS, you cannot carry through any marine life dead or alive as they are protected under the USVI Endangered and Indigenous Species Act
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SHELLS AND CORAL ON THE APPENDIX 1 CITES LIST may not be removed from the Territory and you may be stopped either in the BVI or at your destination, check the CITES website for more information:Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species
(VI Fishery Regulations, 2003 Sec. 28) *You are allowed up to 3 conch shells but make sure nothing is living in it! |
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NOXIOUS AND POISONOUS POLLUTANTS are not allowed in any fresh, estuarine of fishery waters of the BVI
[VI Fishery Regulations, 2003; Part IV, Sec. 32.(1)] |
A GROUNDED VESSEL that has sustained "material damage affecting her seaworthiness or efficiency", must notify the Virgin Islands Shipping Registry within 24 hours of the accident
(The Merchant Shipping Act, 2001; Sec.160) If your boat is that badly damaged, so is the reef you hit. |
The BVI is lucky to have a watchful resident sailing and diving community. Protecting our marine resources is protecting our livelihoods. If you do anything that remotely looks like you are damaging a reef, we will find you.
Laws protecting the fisheries resources
For information about obtaining a pleasure fishing license, click here
Paraquita Bay,
Tortola, Virgin Islands (British) VG1120
Email Address: fisheries@gov.vg
General Office (Paraquita Bay) - 1(284) 468-6123/6124
Tortola, Virgin Islands (British) VG1120
Email Address: fisheries@gov.vg
General Office (Paraquita Bay) - 1(284) 468-6123/6124
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COMMERCIAL, SPORT AND PLEASURE FISHING requires a fishing license AND the boat you are fishing from must be registered
(VI Fisheries Regulations Part I & II). |
ALL BILLFISH are catch & release and includes blue marlin, white marlin, sailfish and swordfish
(VI Fishery Regulations, 2003 Part X). |
MAXIMUM 30lb LIMIT PER BOAT PER DAY for sport and pleasure fishing licenses
(VI Fishery Regulations, 2003, Part I, II, X). |
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MARGATE, RED HIND AND NASSAU GROUPER cannot be fished, removed, bought, sold, or be in your possession during closed seasons:
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CLOSED SEASONS
Margate: 1 January-31 March Red Hind: 1 January-31 March Nassau Grouper: 1 March-31 May |
SPEARFISHING IS ILLEGAL - bringing a spear gun or Hawaiian sling into the Territory may be confiscated by the Customs Department upon arrival
(VI Fisheries Act, Sec. 50)
(VI Fisheries Act, Sec. 50)
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ONLY LICENSED COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN are allowed to fish for, remove, or sell lobster, conch, whelk or turtle EXCEPT during closed seasons
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CLOSED SEASONS:
Lobster: 31 July - 31 October Conch: 15 August-31 October Whelk: 15 August-31 October Turtle: 1 April-30 November |
FISHPOTS AND NETS belonging to a local fisherman may not be hauled, emptied or destroyed
(VI Fishery Regulations, 2003, Sec. 41) |
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NO ANCHORING OR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES WITHIN FISHERY PROTECTED AREAS:
Horseshoe Reef Hans Creek, Beef Island Beef Island Channel South Sound, Virgin Gorda Taylor Bay, Virgin Gorda The Sound, Salt Island Dead Chest Big Reef, Peter Island Green Cay, Jost Van Dyke Money Bay, Norman Island Santa Monica Rock Frenchman's Cay |
NO ANCHORING OR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES WITHIN FISHERY PRIORITY AREAS:
Great Harbour, Peter Island The Bight, Norman Island Benures Bay, Norman Island Frenchman's Cay West Guana Island Great Camanoe |
This map is just a general guide. If you have any questions about locations, contact the Ministry of Natural Resources & Labour, National Parks Trust or Conservation & Fisheries Department.
Sharks, Rays & Marine Mammals
THE BVI IS A SHARK & RAY SANCUARY and it is illegal to commercially fish for, sell, have for sale any shark or ray species.
(A licensed fisher may kill a shark for personal subsistence ONLY except for Great or Scalloped Hammerheads (those listed as critically endangered or endangered under the IUCN). It is also illegal to harass, feed or mutilate sharks
[Fisheries (Protected Species) Order of 2014]
Killing a shark because it's scary and you think you are going to get attacked is a bad excuse.
MARINE MAMMALS are protected and may not be harassed or killed in BVI fishery waters
(VI Fishery Regulations, 2003; Sec. 29)
Chasing a whale with a boat could be interpreted as harassment.
(A licensed fisher may kill a shark for personal subsistence ONLY except for Great or Scalloped Hammerheads (those listed as critically endangered or endangered under the IUCN). It is also illegal to harass, feed or mutilate sharks
[Fisheries (Protected Species) Order of 2014]
Killing a shark because it's scary and you think you are going to get attacked is a bad excuse.
MARINE MAMMALS are protected and may not be harassed or killed in BVI fishery waters
(VI Fishery Regulations, 2003; Sec. 29)
Chasing a whale with a boat could be interpreted as harassment.
