ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
INCREASES TO FEES
Purpose of the Report
The Minister for Economic Development is asked to approve a request to increase the various fees and charges for Fisheries with effect from 1 January 2011 as per the recommendation below.
Background
The Department currently charges a fee for the work involved in administering the following :
Issue of new Fishing vessel licences
Issue of Professional scallop diving permits
Issue of Recreational scallop diving permits
Charging an annual fee per concession and per hectare for fish farming
The Department intends to make a charge for the biennial renewal of fishing boat licences it issues.
It also issues the following permits with no charge :
Granville Bay Access Permits
Granville Bay - Zone E permits
Granville Bay - Zone F permits
Beam trawling permits
Discussion
Of these fees only the Recreational Scallop permit underwent an increase in 2010 and for this reason the increase requested for 2011 corresponds to the increase in RPI of 1.43%.
The remaining fees have remained unchanged since I January 2007 and for this reason the increase requested is 9.8%, again based on the increase in RPI.
In accordance with Finance Direction No.4.1 Increases in States Fees and Charges, all increases to charges above 2.5% require the approval of the Minister for Treasury and Resources. The Treasurer of the States can approve increases to States charges under his delegated powers, where those increases are non-contentious.
Jersey Fishing Boat Licences are renewed every two years to be compatible with the UK licensing regime. Although no charge has previously been made for the renewal the States agreed in their Business Plan to allow a charge to offset the administrative cost of the renewals. The charge will be £70 for a biennial renewal for 2011/2012.
Recommendations
The Minister is recommended to approve the increase to fees and charges and the commencement of a biennial renewal fee as set out below :
Transfer of Fishing vessel licences – from £85.60 to £94.00
Issue of Professional scallop diving permits – from £75.30 to £82.70
Annual fee per fish farming concession – from £155.80 to £171.10
Charge per hectare for fish farming – from £23.60 to £25.90
Issue of Recreational scallop diving permits – from £16.70 to £16.90
Biennial renewal of Fishing Licences - £70.00
Written by: | Head of Fisheries and Marine Resources |
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Approved by: | Director of Environment |