The Public Health [Covid-19 Emergency Powers] [Stay at Home] Amendment Regulations 2021 are in effect.
The following are updated curfew exemption guidance issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for the Minister of Home Affairs on the above noted date.
Pursuant to Section 11(c) of the above Regulations:
11 (c) Fishermen and farmers
1. A licensed fisherman may sell fresh local fish roadside, Monday to Saturday only and between the hours of 7am to 7pm only, subject to the supervision of the Minister of Home Affairs.
2. A registered commercial farmer may sell fresh local produce roadside, Monday to Saturday only and between the hours of 7am to 7pm only, subject to the supervision of the Minister of Home Affairs.
3. A licensed fisherman or registered commercial farmer may make deliveries to customers, subject to Schedule 4.
Operations: Licensed fishermen are permitted to move around when performing operational tasks or travelling to and from their place of business, Monday to Sunday, including exemption from night time curfew for boat activities only. For clarity, exemption from the curfew is for the purposes of preparing for and undertaking offshore fishing operations and does not include shore fishing. Licensed fishermen should not have any person not registered as a fisherman on their vessels during this time. In addition, vessel owners should ensure that only two (2) fishers are on a vessel at any time during daytime or night time operations unless all fishers live in the same household. Should a commercial fisherman be challenged by a member of the Bermuda Police Service, Royal Bermuda Regiment, or the Fisheries Enforcement Section a current or recently expired (31st March 2021) Fisheries ID card must be presented.
Commercial Fisheries License extension
All conditions of the commercial fishing license, as well as notices, and the Fisheries Act 1972 and attending Regulations and Orders must be adhered to. The fishing licensing deadline has been extended until the 31th May 2021 and licenses 2020/21 will be honoured until that time.
Selling: Commercial licensed fishermen do not need to adhere to the “alphabet system” and may sell fresh fish by the roadside or dock, under the supervision of the Minister responsible for fisheries, between 7am and 7pm, Monday to Saturday only, at the following sites only:
· Mangrove Bay, Sandys Parish
· Ely’s Harbour Public Dock, Sandys Parish
· Scaur Hill Dock, Sandys Parish
· Robinson’s Marine Station, Sandys Parish
· Barnes Corner, Southampton Parish
· Jews Bay, Southampton Parish
· Trimingham Hill, Paget Parish
· Ducking Stool, Pembroke Parish
· Palmetto Road, Devonshire Parish
· Devonshire Dock, Devonshire Parish
· Devonshire Bay, Devonshire Parish
· Burchall Cove, Hamilton Parish
· Bailey’s Bay Public Dock, Hamilton Parish
· Kindley Field, St Georges Parish
· Mullet Bay, St Georges Parish
All selling operations must adhere to all directions of the Minister of Health; including but not limited to a maximum of two vendors together, ensuring that the number of customers attending the area at any one time is limited and adhering to the approved 6 foot physical distancing standards between customers. Masks must be used by vendors and customers. Hand sanitizer must be available for the use of the sellers and customers.
Sites will be monitored for compliance by the Fisheries Wardens, as well as the Bermuda Police Service and Royal Bermuda Regiment. Should any fishing operation not be in compliance, the Minister of Home Affairs authorizes the above officers to close that operation immediately and only allow it to reopen if directed by the Minister.
Deliveries: The following applies in relation to all deliveries made while these Regulations are in effect. Deliveries shall be made between the hours of 7am to 7pm only. A fisherman making a delivery shall telephone ahead to ensure that the delivery can be received. A fisherman making a delivery to a private residence shall not enter a customer’s home, but shall— leave the goods outside the customer’s door; and telephone or otherwise inform the customer that the delivery has been made. A fisherman making a delivery shall not require a customer to sign for receipt of a delivery. A fisherman making a delivery of food shall ensure compliance with applicable provisions of the Public Health Act 1949 and the Public Health (Food) Regulations 1950.