The Department hereby reminds the PUBLIC that in accordance with Regulation 10 of Statutory Instrument No. 66 of 2002, under the Fisheries Resources Act No. 7 of 2020:

• No person shall fish for in the waters of Belize or buy, sell, or have in possession any turtle of the following species:

a) Eretmochelys imbricata (Hawksbill Turtle)
b) Caretta caretta (Loggerhead Turtle)
c) Chelonia mydas (Green Turtle)
d) Dermochelys coriacea (Leatherback Turtles)

• No person shall take any turtle found on land; disturb, take, buy, sell, or have in possession any turtle or turtle eggs; or interfere with any turtle nest, except under written permission from the Fisheries Administrator.

• No person shall buy, sell, take, or have in his possession part of turtles or articles made of any part of turtle.

Any person found in contravention of these regulations will be prosecuted in accordance with section 14 (1) of the Fisheries Regulation, Chapter 210s of Subsidiary Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000-2003.

The Fisheries Department advises the public to report any illegal fisheries activity by calling telephone number: 224-4552 or by email [email protected]