OBTAINING A CERTIFICATE OF INSPECTION OF INDUSTRIAL FISHING VESSELS IN CAMEROON

Fishing licences may be issued only to persons resident in Cameroon or to companies whose head office is located in Cameroon and whose composition is known by the fisheries services.

Fishing licences shall be of three types:

The licence to catch fish;
The licence to fish for shrimps and other crustaceans;
The licence to fish for tuna, and/or in high sea.

The right to carry out industrial fishing shall be subject to the obtention of a fishing licence. For the other forms of fishing excluding subsistence, traditional or small-scale fishing, a fishing permit shall be required.

Any person who wishes to fish crayfish and small shrimps (Pallonula SPP and Palaemon Hastatus) shall first obtain a special authorization granted under conditions to be determined by decree.

Fishing permits shall be of four types:

Permit A – The permit for semi-industrial fishing;

Permit B – The permit for sport fishing;

Permit C – The permit for profit-making small-scale fishing;

Permit D – The permit for fisheries research.

The issuing or renewal of a fishing licence or permit shall be subject to the payment of an exploitation tax, the rate of which shall be fixed by the Finance Law.

INITIATING STRUCTURE: Industrial Fishing Service.

CONDITIONS TO BE FULFILLED:

have approval for industrial fishing;
reside in Cameroon for individuals;
have a registered office in Cameroon and whose capital composition is known to
the Administration responsible for fisheries for legal entities.

COMPOSITION OF THE FILE:
Document to consult: shipowners’ file.
Documents to provide:

request stamped at the current rate;
certified copy of the act of approval for the exploitation of fishery resources;
receipt formalizing payment of the tax relating to the issue of approval;
type and quantity of fishing gear; and any other information that the
fisheries administration may require on the characteristics of the vessel;
copy of the technical file of the boat specifying its identification, its technical characteristics,
its date of construction, the composition of the crew and the equipment;
designation of fishery resources to be fished by the vessel;
valid certificate of navigability, issued by the Minister responsible for the
merchant navy;
criminal record extract dated less than three months in the name of the owner of the boat when
the applicant is a natural person;
five-year programme for the recruitment and training of marine fishermen when the applicant
is a legal entity;
declaration on stamped paper at the current rate certifying that the applicant will collaborate with
the administration responsible for fisheries to monitor the proper management of
fishery resources, will accept a scientific observer on board at his own expense; undertakes to land all of his catches before any possible export