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Updating Fisheries Licensing & Improving Fisheries Monitoring

Updating the fisheries licensing system and improving fisheries monitoring and assessment will help ensure sustainable commercial and recreational fisheries. Monitoring the environmental and socio-economic effects of the marine spatial plan will help improve future versions. The success of marine protected areas (MPAs) depends on adequate management, and continuous monitoring and enforcement. 

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The Blue Prosperity Plan reinforces and expands on key licensing and monitoring priorities in DENR’s existing Fishery Data Improvement & Assessment Action Plan (2018). These include activities already underway, such as:

  • Expanding the use of electronic technologies to fill critical gaps in data and to support more responsive fisheries management 

  • Improving training for commercial and recreational fishers on electronic reporting, as well as education on licensing requirements and fisheries legislation. 

Watch: Updates to the Blue Prosperity Plan on Licensing Reform & Fisheries Monitoring

We received a range of public feedback, and key themes centred on requests for:

  • An updated fisheries licensing system 

  • Fishery management strategies that can be adapted to address changing environmental and economic conditions (also called adaptive fisheries management)

  • Monitoring both the environmental and socioeconomic impacts of the Marine Spatial Plan

 

The Draft Blue Prosperity Plan is incorporating public feedback to update the fisheries licensing  system and improve fisheries monitoring, including in the following areas:

  • A licensing system for recreational fishing: Provides more fisheries data and information to better inform decision-making. 

    • ​Includes restrictions on catch (e.g., bag limits) and requirements for vessel licensing and catch/effort reporting

  • ​A marine resources and socioeconomic monitoring strategy: Measures the impacts of the MSP on the local marine environment and the socioeconomic well-being of Bermuda’s residents and businesses.

  • Stock assessments: provide managers with data and resources needed to detect changes in a fish population over time, helping to ensure the long-term sustainability of the fishery.

  • Adaptive fisheries management: working to strengthen legislation to better allow for changes in management measures as new information becomes available.

    • Examples include: minimum sizes, catch limits, and gear restrictions.

Read the Action Plan on Licensing & Monitoring:

Read more about Licensing & Fisheries Monitoring in the Blue Prosperity Plan:

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