National

“At This Point We Need A Hail Mary To Help The Marina Industry”

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – We’re in the midst of the festive season, but marinas around the country are not feeling the holiday cheer.

Published

5 hours ago

December 18, 2025

Joshua Williams

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – We’re in the midst of the festive season, but marinas around the country are not feeling the holiday cheer.

Association of Bahamas Marinas Executive Director Erika Fetz telling our Joshua Williams that increased boat fees coupled with a long registration process are forcing boat owners to lift their anchors and dock at other Caribbean ports.

“I am hoping that the powers that be are listening and will make changes because there are a lot of Bahamian families that are struggling to feed their families.”

That’s Executive Director of the Association of Bahamas Marinas and manager at the Bay Street Marina Erika Fetz pleading with the Davis administration to take another look at recently hiked boating fees.

She says the policy changes introduced in the 2025–2026 budget and implemented on July 1, 2025, have sharply increased fees, hurting the local marina business.

The association believes The Bahamas is now a least favored destination.

“Smaller boat and that can’t afford that increase are now choosing to stay in in the Florida Cays and the chart of vessels that are getting more bookings in the Caribbean are just going straight down to the Caribbean”

But it’s not just fees they’re concerned about.

Higher cruising permits, separate fishing permits, new anchorage fees, mandatory automatic identification system requirements, and added compliance obligations were rolled out execs say without consultation, despite them benefitting the local economy.

“They spend money at restaurants bars, Marina’s fuel fish from local fisherman”