OBTAINING A SEMI-INDUSTRIAL FISHING PERMIT (PERMIT A) IN CAMEROON

Among the fishing authorisations issued by Cameroon’s Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries (MINEPIA), is a semi-industrial fishing permit (permit A). Semi-industrial Fishing Permit is, pursuant to the 1994 Fisheries Law, a category A fishing permit granting the right to fish on Cameroon’s open sea with on-board engine boats of more than fifty (50) horse power or in-board engines between thirty (30) horse power and  fifty (50) horse power. To know more on all types of fishing authorisations issued to boat/ship owners in Cameroon, read this our holistic article. To register your fishing business, read this post.

MINEPIA reserves the right to renewing industrial fishing licences of ship owners under its flag, when these licences expire. In this briefing, we are going to look at the procedures to renew an industrial fishing licence in Cameroon.

Relevant legal instruments on semi-industrial fishing permits in Cameroon?

In Cameroon, a set of regulations govern the issue, use and renewal of semi-industrial fishing permits. Such regulations include:

• Decree No. 95/413/PM of 20 June 1995 to lay down certain conditions for the application of the fisheries law;
• Instruction No. 001/CAB/PM of 18 March 2010 to laydown administrative formalities for setting up enterprises in Cameroon.
• Law No. 94/01 of 20 January 1994 to laydown forestry, wildlife and fisheries regulations; Finance Law in force;
• Decree No. 2012/382 of 14 September 2012 to organise the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries;

What are the conditions to be met before applying for a semi-industrial fishing permit?

According to Cameroon’s industrial fishing administrative body, MINEPIA, before applying for a semi-industrial fishing permit, the following two conditions must be met:

• compliance with regulations in force during the previous financial year
• be resident in Cameroon and have fishing gear and efforts that are environmentally friendly.

If you meet the aforementioned conditions you are eligible to submit an application for a semi-industrial fishing permit. The needed application constituents are listed in the following section.

Components of the application to renew a semi-industrial fishing permit for residents in Cameroon

Cameroon’s MINEPIA has set out a list of documents to be enclosed with your application. The file components for juridical persons are different from those for individuals.

For individuals (5 application file components):

• application stamped at the current rate indicating the number of boats to be used and the fishing zone(s) requested;
• two 4 x 4 passport-size photographs;
• presentation of the number, dimensions or characteristics of the fishing gear;
• boat registration certificate;
• certificate of seaworthiness of boats.

For legal entities (10 components):

1. An application stamped at the current rate;
2. copy of the company’s articles of association;
3. certificate of non-conviction less than three months old;
4. curriculum vitae of the director or manager;
5. A descriptive and estimated plan of the processing and storage facilities on land, as well as the means of transporting the catches;
6. five-year schedule of activities and facilities;
7. provisional operating account;
8. evidence of the financial resources and equipment available;
9. receipt of payment of the operating tax.
10. Certificates of registration and seaworthiness of fishing boats issued by the Ministry responsible for the merchant shipping.

Processing of applications for semi-industrial fishing permits in Cameroon?

After compiling all the necessary documents, channel your application hierarchically via the relevant MINEPIA delegations to the Minister, in Yaounde. When this application gets to Minister, they will be forwarded to MINEPIA’s Service of Inland and Artisanal Maritime Fishing at Mvog-betsi, Yaounde, for processing.

After arriving at the Service of Inland and Artisanal Maritime Fishing, the file components are checked for any irregularities, and compliance with the fisheries regulations in force, authenticity of certified documents, and veracity of the information provided in them. If all necessary file components are present and valid, a draft permit will then be forwarded hierarchically to the Minister for signing. Semi-industrial fishing permits are signed by the Minister in charge of fishering. Its complete processing averagely takes sixty (60) days, after which it can be withdrawn following notification. The fishing permit is issued as a ministerial document titled ‘Permis de pêche semi-industrielle’ in French, translated as ‘semi-industrial fishing permit.’

FAQs on semi-industrial fishing permits

Who initiates the procedure to get a semi-industrial fishing permit in Cameroon?

The individual or legal ship owner/ boat owner aspiring to renew a semi-industrial fishing permit is the initiator of the procedure.

Where should the compiled application for semi-industrial fishing permits be submitted?

The compiled application file to renew a semi-industrial fishing permit should be submitted at the closest relevant MINEPIA delegation. It will then be forwarded hierarchically to the Minister in charge of fishing.

Who signs semi-industrial fishing permits in Cameroon?

The Minister of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries (MINEPIA).

How long does it take for a semi-industrial fishing permit to be issued after all needed documents have been submitted?

All file components being compliant, the application file will be processed. This processing averagely takes sixty (60) days, after which it can be withdrawn following notification, at the MINEPIA mail service.

How does a permit for semi-industrial fishing look like?

A semi-industrial fishing permit is signed by the Minister of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries (MINEPIA). It is titled ‘Permis de pêche semi-industrielle’ in French, translated as ‘semi-industrial fishing permit.’

Where can one withdraw permits for signed semi-industrial fishing ?

All signed fishing permits can be withdrawn at MINEPIA’s mail service once they are issued.