Page 188 - Visitor Guides

SUMMARY OF CAYMAN ISLANDS MARINE CONSERVATION LAWS
S U M M A R Y OF C A Y M A N I S L A N D S M A R I N E C ON S E R V AT I O N L A W S

LOBSTERS
ASSA
U GR
OUPERS
L O B S T E R S N NASSAU GROUPERS GENERAL RULES
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Closed seas
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Size limit:
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size limi
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on:
M
1
 Closed season: 1 March through 30 November. No   Size limit: Twelve inch minimum size limit applies applies  Damaging coral by anchor, chains or any other means
a
ch

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i
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m
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v

one ma y t a ke lobst er fr om Cay m a n w ater s during th es e thr o ugh o ut C a ym an w ate rs year r o und E X C E P T : ANYWHERE in Cayman waters is prohibited.
throughout Cayman waters year round EXCEPT:
one may take lobster from Cayman waters during these
months. No one may purchase, receive or possess
months. N o one may purchas e, recei ve or posses s   Designated Grouper Spawning Areas are protected.  No taking of ANY marine life alive or dead while on Marine Park
ning Areas
Grouper Spa
w
are protected.
Designated
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l lobster taken from Cayman waters during these months.   No one may take Nassau grouper from any of the e SCUBA.
a
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a
d
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ro
s
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au grouper
y take Nass
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No on
from a
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Open season catch limit:
 Open season catch limit: Three per person or six per Design ated Group e r Sp a wning A reas from 1 N o vemb  No taking of any coral, sponges, etc. from Cayman
e
r
o
o
n
Designated Grouper Spawning Areas from 1 November er

s
,
s

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a
boat per day, whichever is less. thr through 31 March. waters. Regulations
.
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ugh 31 Marc
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nimum size.
Six inch
 Size limit: Six inch tail minimum size.   No one may spearfish or set a fish-pot within a one–mile mile  Wearing gloves while diving or snorkelling in Cayman
tail mi
Size limit:

No o
o
–
t
withi
on

a
e
n
p
set a fis
ish o
h
r
may
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n
spear
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t
argu
 Only spiny lobster (P. argus) may be taken. radius of any Design at ed Group e r Spa wning Are a waters is prohibited.
(
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P.
en.
er
l
n
s)
o
y s
may be tak
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O
i
s
radius of any Designated Grouper Spawning Area from 1 from 1
b

November through 31 March.  Export of live fish or other marine life is prohibited. Marine Park
November through 31 March.
C O N C H  No one may use a speargun to take Nassau Grouper.  Fishing with gill nets, poison or other noxious & Marine
CONCH
Closed seas
on:
rough 31 Oct
r. No on
obe
e

1 May th
 Closed season: 1 May through 31 October. No one OTHER FISH substances is prohibited.
Regulations
may take conch from Cayman waters during these
may t a ke c o nch f r om C a ym an w ate r s during the s e  Dumping ANYTHING in Cayman waters is Conservation
a
rchas
y
o

on
p
N
e,
u
p
months. No one may purchase, receive or possess  Protected fish: Jew fish (goliath grouper), tilefish (whities), prohibited.
mon
sses

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s
ve
or
t
cei
m
e
re
hs.

con ch take n f r om C a ym a n wate rs during thes e mo nt hs. filefish (pipers) and angelfish, including Grey, French and  The export of more than three conch shells and or any
conch taken from Cayman waters during these months.
Open season catch limit:
er
 Open season catch limit: Five per person or ten per Queen angels (old monks), may not be taken from Cayman black coral requires a CITES permit, issued through the & Marine
Five per pe
rson or te
n p

ss.
whic
hever is l
e
bo
r day,
e
boat per day, whichever is less. waters at any time. DOE. Laws
at p
o
a
eceive m
re
y
than five conc
No one m
 No one may purchase or receive more than five conch  Size limit: Eight-inch minimum size on all other fish except
purchase or r
h

from Cayman waters in any one day.
from C a y m a n waters i n a n y one da y. goggle eyes, herrings (including sprats), anchovies and
silversides (including loggerhead and fine fry). PENALTIES Conservation
FISH POTS
WHELKS FISH POTS Violation of any of these laws is an offence carrying a Cayman Islands
WHELKS
 Must be licensed by the Marine Conservation Board.
obe
e
on:
Closed seas
r. No on
rough 31 Oct
 Closed season: 1 May through 31 October. No one  Must be licensed by the Marine Conservation Board. maximum penalty of Cl$500,000 fine and one year in
1 May th

 Only Caymanians over 18 may be granted licences.

s
may take w
may take whelk from Cayman waters during these  Only Caymanians over 18 may be granted licences. jail. Upon conviction, forfeiture of the vessel or other Laws
r
ate
an w
h
during the
elk from C
a
e
ym
s
 Only two pots per family and pots must be identified
months. No one may purchase, receive or possess
mon t hs. N o on e m a y p u rchas e, re cei ve or p o sses s  Only two pots per family and pots must be identified with a equipment may also be ordered.
with a DOE tag.
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a
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w
n
whelk taken from Cayman waters during these months. DOE tag.
.

t
r
w
h
o
a
s
n
s
d
e
 No fish pot may be set within a one–mile radius of any
Open season catch limit:
 Open season catch limit: Two-and-a-half gallons in  No fish pot may be set within a one–mile radius of any Cayman Islands
Two-
n
and-
a


ons i
-half
gall
Designated Grouper Spawning Area from 1 November
the shell or two-and-a-half pounds of processed whelks
the sh ell or t wo-a n d-a - h a lf pounds of p r ocessed wh el ks Designated Grouper Spawning Area from 1 November CONTACT INFORMATION
through 31 March.
p
r person
y.
e
per da
per person per day. through 31 March.
eceive m
 No one may purchase or receive more than two-and-a- SPEAR GUNS & SEINE NETS For additional information contact the
No one may purchase or r
o
re than two-and-
a-

half g a llo ns in t h e sh ell or tw o- and -a- half pou n d s SPEAR GUNS & SEINE NETS Department of Environment
half gallons in the shell or two-and-a-half pounds
 No one may use a speargun (includes Hawaiian sling,
processed whelks from Cayman waters in any one day.  No one may use a speargun (includes Hawaiian sling,
processed whelks from Cayman waters in any one day.
polespear, harpoon, hookstick or any device with a
b
e
t
o
o
s, peri
winkles and
Chit
n
 Chitons, periwinkles and bleeding teeth may not be polespear, harpoon, hookstick or any device with a pointed 580 North Sound Road, Grand Cayman
g tee
t
bleedin
h may n

pointed end which may be used to impale, stab or pierce
taken from Cayman waters at any time.
take n fro m C a yma n wa ters a t an y tim e . end which may be used to impale, stab or pierce any marine Phone: 949-8469 Fax: 949-4020
any marine life but does not include a striker) or seine
life but does not include a striker) or seine net without a EMAIL: doe@gov.ky Department
net without a licence from the Marine Conservation
ECHINODERMS licence from the Marine Conservation Board. NOTE: A Web: www.DoE.ky of Environment
ECHINODERMS
Board. NOTE: A striker is defined as a wooden pole, at least 10ft
a
rfish, sea egg
ms
(includes sta
s
Echi
 Echinoderms (includes starfish, sea eggs/urchins, sea striker is defined as a wooden pole, at least 10ft long, with a
/urchins, se
noder

long, with a maximum of 2 barb-less prongs attached to one end.
maximum of 2 barb-less prongs attached to one end.
r
ars) m
cucumbers and sand doll
om
a
cucumber and sand dollars) may not be taken from  No one may possess a speargun without a licence.
y not be taken f
ma
Cayman waters at any time.  No one may possess a speargun without a licence. If you see a marine turtle nest call the
s
e.
y tim
n
ter
wa
Cay
at an
 No one may import a speargun or any parts for a
 No one may import a speargun or any parts for a speargun. Turtle Hotline: 938-NEST / 938-6378
speargun.
TUR T LES  Only Caymanians over 18 may be granted licences. Department
TURTLES
 Only Caymanians over 18 may be granted licences.
 Speargun catch limit: Three fish per licensed person
No one may disturb, mole
t
 No one may disturb, molest or take turtles in Cayman  Speargun catch limit: Three fish per licensed person per Report Offences to:
tur
st or tak
e
les in Caym
an

per day.
waters without a licence from the Marine Conservation
wate rs wit hou t a lice n ce fr o m t h e M a rin e Co nserv ati on day. Grand Cayman: 949-8469 or 916-4271 of Environment
 No one may use a speargun in water less than 20ft deep.
Board.
Bo ard .  No one may use a speargun in water less than 20ft deep. Cayman Brac: 926-0136
 No one may possess more than six fish that have been
 Possession of turtle eggs is prohibited.  No one may possess more than six fish that have been Little Cayman: 916-7021 or 926-2342
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t
s
g
l
P

caught by a speargun.
sed fi
For lice
 For licensed fishermen, closed season runs from 1 April caught by a speargun.
os
ed
season runs from 1 April
sherm
n
e
n, cl

 No one may spearfish within a one–mile radius of any
through 31 October.
through 30 November.  No one may spearfish within a one–mile radius of any VHF: Channel 10
Designated Grouper Spawning Area from 1 November Or 911
Designated Grouper Spawning Area from 1 November
SHARKS through 31 March.
SHARKS
through 31 March.
 Licence holders must carry licence when using seine net
feed, atte
e
 No one may feed, attempt to feed or provide or use  Licence holders must carry licence when using seine net or Report oil spills or other marine pollution
e may
No on
t to feed or provide or us
mp

or spear fishing and adhere to licence conditions.
n
a
h
s
y
i
t
k
r
a
o
t
r
e
w
n
a
a
o
o
food to attract any shark in Cayman waters. spear fishing and adhere to licence conditions. to the DOE 949-8469 or 911
f
s
t
d
.
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a
a
n

C
m
t
a
t
y
r
 No one may use a speargun to take Nassau Grouper.
Minimum fish size
Minimum Nassau grouper size
lobster t
Minimum lobster tail size Mi ni mum fi sh si z e Mi ni mum Nassau g r ouper si z e
Minimum
ail size
12
0 0 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 6 7 7 8 8 9 9 10 1 11 1 2
1
0
1
RULER (INCHES) TO HELP YOU MEASURE YOUR CATCH
RULER (I NCHES) TO HELP YOU MEASURE YOUR CATCH