25 or 6 to 4 Prohibition

Waiting for the break of day

Searching for something to say

Flashing lights against the sky

Giving up I close my eyes

Sitting cross-legged on the floor

25 or 6 to 4

Staring blindly into space

Getting up to splash my face

Wanting just to stay awake

Wondering how much I can take

Should I try to do some more

25 or 6 to 4

Feeling like I ought to sleep

Spinning room is sinking deep

Searching for something to say

Waiting for the break of day

25 or 6 to 4

25 or 6 to 4

YES

So what is with a Yes song?  Well until you realize it is just "3:35 AM (or 3:34 AM)" and he is waiting on the break of day it is all confusing.   

Leading us to the current Bahamas Regulations.  

Waiting for the break of day

Searching for something to pay

Flashing lights against the sky

Giving up I close my eyes

Sitting cross-legged on the floor

250 or 150 or more?

30, 34 or 35?

6 craws, 10 conch no more?

Current posting on http://www.myoutislands.com/bahamas-fishing/regulations.cfm 

Fishing Regulations for The Bahamas

• Each vessel shall use not more than six (6) rods or reels unless the operator is in possession of a permit authorizing the use of more rods or reels;
• Vessels with a valid fishing permit are allowed 20 pounds of scale fish, 10 conch, and six crawfish (in season) per person, at any time.
• All other migratory fish shall be returned to the sea alive unless it is to be used immediately.
• No grouper or rockfish weighing less than three pounds may be taken.
• No spearfishing within 200 yards of any island in the Bahamas.
• It is illegal to use any type of underwater air supply for spear fishing or collecting of any marine life. This includes scuba gear as well as air compressors.
• Spearfishing is restricted to free divers only and only with the use of a Hawaiian sling.
• It is illegal to take coral, tropical fish or sea fans.
• It is illegal for a non-Bahamian to use any type of fishing net, except a cast net.
• It is illegal for a non-Bahamian to use fish traps or to sell marine products of any type.
• Nothing may be taken from Bahamas National Underwater Parks.
• A person shall fish by the traditional method of angling with a hook or lure attached to a line held in the hand or attached to a pole, rod or reel;
• A person, unless otherwise authorized by the respective permit, shall not use a spear, a fish trap, or a net other than a landing net;
• Any migratory fishery resource that is caught shall not in total consist of more than six (6) Kingfish, Dolphin, Tuna or Wahoo per vessel and any resource not intended to be used shall not be injured unnecessarily but be returned to the sea alive;
• No vessel shall have on board any conch, turtle or more than twenty pounds of any demersal fishery resources (groupers, snappers, etc.) per vessel at any time and excluding not more than six crawfish per vessel.
• No vessel shall have on board any fish unless its head and tail is intact.
• The general public is advised that the Queen Conch (conch) is considered to be an endangered species throughout much of its range within the wider Caribbean area, including The Bahamas. The Government, in an effort to ensure the continued sustainability of local conch stocks, has decided to prohibit the harvesting of the species by foreign boaters.
• For more information, contact:

Department of Marine Resources
Ministry of Agriculture & Marine Resources
P.O. Box N-3028
Nassau, The Bahamas
Email: fisheries@bahamas.gov.bs

Posted on the http://www.bahamas.gov.bs/ site

Related Fee(s)
There are customs charges based on the size of the pleasure vessel.

• Up to 35 ft in length - BS$150.00
• Over 35 ft in length - BS$300.00

From the waterway guide  http://www.waterwayguide.com/newsupdate.php?area=9

12 July 2013

Bahamas entry fee increase?

Reported By: Mike Ahart, News Editor (WG Staff)

UPDATE: The Bahamas Ministry of Finance has reversed the July 1 increase, and, once again, offers a credit of the differenct to boaters who paid the higher entry fee, according to a notice sent by the Marine Operators of the Bahamas:

MINISTER MICHAEL HAKETIS, - (Ministry of Finance)  ANNOUNCEMENT OF REVERSAL OF INCREASE AND CREDIT OF ENTRY FEES FOR BOATERS

Dear MOB Member:

We are pleased to share with you the Governments announcement of the reversal of increased fees for boaters as well as the issuance of credits for boaters who were inadvertently overcharged.

In a release today, and as published in the business section of the Nassau Guardian ( now viewable online),  Minister Michael Halketis shared the Governments’ position to reverse the entry fees for boaters visiting our shores; he furthered that credits will also be issued to boaters who paid the increased fees.

We are following up with the Ministry of Finance for specific details with how credits can be reimbursed. While we are still working on a formal announcement we wanted to apprise you the membership of this information.

I would especially like to thank the efforts of Peter Maury our MOB President, and Earl Miller  and his Team from the Ministry of Tourism for their vocal and behind the scenes  support in helping our charge for the government to revisit this decision.

While this is a step in the right direction, we are still advocating for the MOB to be involved in ongoing dialogue with the Government when decisions affecting our sector is made. 

As information presents itself, stay tuned for details.

Shamine Johnson, Manager, Marina Operators of The Bahamas (MOB) 

If you're planning to enter the Bahamas, I would still be prepared for any of the three fee schedules, despite this announcement. (So, if I had entered with my 34-foot boat and paid the new $250 rate (for boats 35' and under), I should go back to customs and pay $50 more ($300 for boats over 30').)

(7/1/2013) Bahamas entry fees for pleasure vessels have increased, effective July 1, according to the Customs Management (Amendment) Act, 2013 and Customs Management Regulations, 2013. The new law appears to have been enacted, but we have found no statements in the press or from the government to confirm this. The Marina Operators of the Bahamas responded to our inquiry, referring to the regulations as an "unofficial document" -- it is awaiting official notification from Bahamas Customs and Immigration: "We are encouraging our MOB Members and Partners to be aware of the change."

Fees would now be $250 for pleasure vessels 35 feet and under, and $400 for vessels over 35 feet. As before, these entry fees would cover three passengers -- each additional passenger above the age of six is subject to a tax of $20.

The previous fees, enacted last year, were officially $150 for 30 feet and under, and $300 for vessels over 30 feet, but many cruisers have reported being charged according to the older, long-standing cutoff point: $150 for boats 35 feet and under, and $300 for boats over 35 feet. 

Recently, it has been common for some ports to continue charging the old amounts, so be prepared to be charged according to any of these three fee schedules.

Here is an excerpt from the Customs Management Regulations, 2013: 

91. Fee for pleasure vessel.

(1) A temporary cruising permit shall, on approval of the inward report by the Customs authority, be issued on Form No. C39 upon payment of —

(a) a fee of two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00) for a pleasure vessel not exceeding thirty-five feet in length;

(b) a fee of four hundred dollars ($400.00) for a pleasure vessel exceeding thirty-five feet in length.

(2) The fees referred to in paragraph (1) shall cover the costs of — (a) a fishing permit under the Fisheries Resources (Jurisdiction and Conservation) Act (Ch. 244);

(b) a cruising permit under regulation 90(a);

(c) attendance fees payable in respect of attendance by a Customs officer pursuant to regulation 7; and

(d) overtime and travel expenses in respect of the attendance of an Immigration officer;

(3) Sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) of paragraph (1) shall not apply for tender vessels and ancillary equipment being towed or on board a pleasure vessel.
(4) Where a pleasure vessel under sub-paragraphs (a) or (b) of paragraph (1) carries more than three passengers, every additional passenger of or above the age of six years who is not a resident passenger shall be subject to a tax of twenty ($20.00) dollars as specified under the Passenger Tax Act (Ch. 379).

(5) The fee paid in respect of a pleasure vessel under sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) of paragraph (1) shall permit such vessel to enter The Bahamas twice within a ninety day period.

92. Number of firearms and ammunition allowed for a pleasure vessel.

A pleasure vessel entering The Bahamas shall be allowed to import the maximum of —

(a) three firearms inclusive of handguns, rifles, and shotguns, where such calibre of firearms shall not exceed three hundred and eight calibres.

(b) two hundred and fifty rounds of ammunition per firearm.

93. Cruising permit extension for pleasure vessel.

(1) A pleasure vessel shall depart from The Bahamas —

(a) within twelve months of the date of arrival; or

(b) within such further period, not beyond two years from the date of arrival, as may upon application to the Comptroller be approved by the Minister, subject to —

(i) the continuing condition that the vessel is not used during any extended period for commercial purposes or hire; and

(ii) the payment of a fee of one thousand dollars ($1000.00) for each extension period approved by the Minister.

(2) A temporary cruising permit shall, on departure of a pleasure vessel from The Bahamas, be surrendered to the proper officer when application for clearance is made or dealt with in accordance with regulation 73.

Then if you go to the forums for cruisers you get any incarnation of the three schedules plus some.  So if you show up with $400 and don't harvest conch you may be covered.  But what if you are given paperwork with 10 conchs printed, the customs officer tells you 10 conchs and you are visited by the Defense Force with 1 conch on your vessel?  

On our last trip we saw what one "Conch Diver" could do in a day while we were at Allens Cay.  On a small skiff running to the harvest grounds and the "Big Boat" anchored at Allens Cay, Sam and Alice returned with a half day harvest of about 500 Conchs.  

With our next cruise still a few months away maybe it will all be free by then.  

W