Sea Cucumber Season Opens September 1
Belize’s Fisheries Department is preparing for the 2026-2027 sea cucumber season on two fronts, opening the harvest to licensed fishers while simultaneously calling for export licence proposals from commercial buyers and exporters.
The fishing season officially opens September 1, 2026, and runs through January 31, 2027, or until the national catch quota is reached, whichever comes first.
Commercial fishing will be permitted only in fishing areas 2 through 8, with fishing area 1 remaining closed for the entire season.
Fishers holding a valid commercial fishing licence who want to take part in the harvest must apply for a special sea cucumber fishing licence.
Applications open August 18th and close August 31st, with a special license fee of seventy-five Belize dollars. The department is stressing that every fisher aboard a vessel engaged in sea cucumber fishing, not just the vessel operator, must hold a valid special licence.
On the export side, the department is also calling for project proposals from commercial entities and individuals seeking a sea cucumber export licence. This year’s licenses are restricted exclusively to the “donkey dung” sea cucumber, or Holothuria mexicana.
The export licence process runs on a two-stage timeline. Interested applicants must first submit an Expression of Interest by August 17th, after which the Department will issue the official proposal format. Completed proposals and supporting documents are then due no later than August 25th.
New applicants must show proof of active commercial operation along with a valid HACCP or BAHA Certificate of Registration. Renewal applicants who held a valid export licence last year must submit renewal forms alongside valid facility certifications confirming their processing and export operations still meet approved standards.
The Fisheries Department says export licences will be granted based on the merits of each proposal submitted and that its decisions on approvals will be final, with no avenue for appeal.