Ismael Gerli historical recollection, on the fishing vessel registration in Belize, as an active player during the days of glory for the international fishing vessel industry of the Belize registry, as I saw it unravel registering a Fishing Vessel under Belize Flag (2002 – 2006) applying for Fishing Licenses, Sanitary Certificates and Eur 1 Tax exemption certificates, that would allow Belize Fishing vessel to catch, and deliver fishing products in the European Union , under preferential tax incentives.
The Canary Islands (Gran Canarias) was unquestionably the port where the action was taken place. Sovispan a bilateral Soviet and Spanish enterprise had collapsed and most of the fishing fleet of Russian interest, as well as Korean, Japanese, Chinese, among other less important fleets in terms of size, made of the Port of Gran Canaria, the homeport for their fleets. Back in those days, a hand full of professionals were representing or registering such vessels on behalf of the Belize Registry, known by its acronyms as IMMARBE.
Through negotiations, the Belize Registry (IMMARB ) had obtained a limited authorization ( omething close to a two year time period) from Brussels to grant Sanitary Certificates while Belize Ship Registry (IMMARBE) would organize a sanitary department that would under the authority of the Government, enable Sanitary Inspectors to visit each applicant vessel and examine the sanitary conditions of each vessel.
During such 2 year period, the registry of fishing vessels in Belize ( Immarbe ) reached its peak, Belize registry was at the helm ………as a personal recollection, I recall only our firm Ismael Gerli, had registered almost the entire Russian and Ukranian Fleet and close to 75 Chinese fishing vessels. We didn’t get involved with the Japanese fleet as they were heavily involved in the Shark fin poaching and selling , and it was an activity that we considered not only cruel but of devastating consequences to the oceans ecosystem.
The time came to when the two year grace period granted by Brussels had reached to an end and IMMARBE hadn’t taken the appropriate recommendations nor put in place a surveying inspection practice.
Consequences: The spinal cord of the Belize Ship Registry where at that time the fishing vessels, Provided the none compliance and despite Immarbe made all efforts at the last moment to put in place the inspection process, it was too late.
Brussels Retaliates: No more Sanitary numbers where issued by Brussels, those that had already been given where not renewed, the Euro 1 tax exception benefit under the EU directives was as well cancelled and inevitably the fishing fleet decreased rather rapidly , some owners fled to the Panama registry , others to African nations flags like TOGO, Sierra Leone, but only Panama would be able to provide the sanitary certificated under Brussels provisions, therefore the end of the Belize huge fishing fleet came to an abrupt finish.
