More spearguns could be used to fish following a vote by the National Conservation Council recommending the expanded granting of licences.
Speargun licences are currently only reissued to people already holding a valid licence, of which there are thought to be around 90, but up to 170 licences are allowed, according to government directives.
Under the new guidance, previous licence-holders could get new speargun licences, which would allow them to own one speargun and use it to fish. In addition, licence-holders will once again be able to import new spearguns and replacement parts for existing licensed spearguns.
Questions in Parliament
The issue had been raised in Parliament’s Finance Committee in November and government had promised to clarify the situation after Environment Minister Katherine Ebanks-Wilks said that renewals were currently being granted, but that no new applications were being approved. With restrictions also in place on getting new spearguns or replacement parts, there had been calls for the issue to be clarified once and for all.
After receiving advice from the attorney general’s office, the National Conservation Council passed a motion during its General Meeting on 25 March recommending that speargun licences be available to people who hold, or used to hold, a licence. Licences will be distributed in order of how long-ago applicants held a licence, with priority given to people renewing a currently active licence.
Licences will be issued by year group until the number of available licences remaining is fewer than the number of applicants remaining in that year group, at which point the remaining licences will be distributed randomly among the remaining applicants in that year group. So, for example, applicants looking to renew a licence that expired in 1991 take precedence over applicants looking to renew a licence which expired in 1990.
If it is seen that there is a negative impact on marine life, particularly fish populations, then the matter will be reconsidered.
As before, licences cannot be handed down and applications for licences, which cost $50 a year, can be made to the Department of Environment between 1 June and 31 Aug. each year. Only one speargun is allowed per licence, and the gun will be photographed and its serial number recorded to attach to that specific licence.
The National Conservation Council has also asked for an increase in funds for the Department of Environment to be put towards enforcement, to make sure the rules around speargun fishing are being followed, and for public education, particularly around sustainable speargun use in the Cayman Islands.
Education on speargun fishing
An amendment suggested by National Conservation Council member Catherine Childs from the National Trust for the Cayman Islands asking for a mandatory educational element of each licence application covering gun safety and licence rules was also passed by the council.
It was also suggested that part of the budget be spent on signs, pamphlets and even an app or video showing how to fish safely and sustainably.
The issuing of licences is expected to begin in a year’s time to give the Department of Environment time to create the educational resources and to get additional enforcement officers in place, and to be endorsed by Cabinet.
Speargun licences and catch limits were first applied when the first legal Marine Park protections came into force 40 years ago, after several regional reports confirmed the severe impact spear fishing had on local fish populations.
In 1986, to protect larger species of reef fish and the coral itself, the unlicensed possession and importation of spearguns became an offence in the Cayman Islands. Then in 2009, the manufacture of spearguns and parts was also outlawed. Speargun licences are limited to Caymanians over 18 years old and only three fish can be caught per day (excluding lionfish).
Violation of speargun laws is an offence carrying a maximum penalty of a $500,000 fine and four years in jail.
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