by Linda Straker
- Since 2011, Levera Beach declared closed area from 1 April to 31 August
- 2025 notice to remind public about seasonal closure of Levera Beach published in 14 March Government Gazette
- 1 April–31 August closed season for fresh turtles and seas urchins
From 1 April 2025, Levera Beach in the northern parish of St Patrick will become a closed area under the Fisheries Act. Any individual who violates that declaration could face a fine of EC$5,000 or 24 months imprisonment or fine and imprisonment.
A closed area is a place or area not generally accessible to the public. In the schedule of the fisheries legislation, Levera Beach which is well known for turtle nesting during April to August, was declared a closed area during that period since 2011 by then Agriculture Minister Denis Lett. “The area specified in the Schedule hereto, commonly known as Levera Beach, is hereby declared to be a closed area during the period 1st April to 31st August annually.”
The 2025 notice to remind the public about the seasonal closure of the Levera Beach was published in the 14 March edition of the Government Gazette. Signed by the Permanent Secretary to the Minister responsible for Fisheries, the notice states that regulations will be in effect as of 1 April. “The Minister Responsible for Fisheries pursuant to the Fisheries (Levera Beach Closed Area) Regulations, SRO No. 15 of 2010 amended by SRO No. 8 of 2011, hereby gives notice that Levera Beach in the parish of St. Patrick’s continues to be a CLOSED AREA, annually, for the period hereinafter mentioned 1st April to 31st August, 2025.”
“Notice is also served that all prohibitions, measures and penalties attendant to these Regulations are in effect during this period.” The notice further warns that a person commits an offence by contravening the closed area regulations and on summary conviction is liable to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment not exceeding 2 years or both.
The closed season date for trading fresh turtles and sea urchins is 1 April, while 1 May starts the closed season for lobsters. The closed season for all will end on 31 August. During that period, restaurants can only sell what was in storage before 1 April.
