“Para enmendar los incisos A, B, C, D, E, F y G del Artículos 6; añadir un nuevo inciso E al Artículo 7; y enmendar los incisos A, B y C del Artículo 9 de la Ley 278-1998, según enmendada, conocida como “Ley de Pesquerías de Puerto Rico”, a los fines de simplificar y hacer menos burocrático el proceso de otorgamiento, renovación y validación de licencias de pesca en sus distintas categorías comerciales y recreativas; disponer la digitalización integral de trámites; consolidar permisos asociados en un comprobante único verificable; optimizar la rendición de estadísticas por medios electrónicos; y para otros fines relacionados.”

2025-2028 Session

Puerto Rico digitizes and consolidates fishing licenses into streamlined electronic permits to reduce bureaucracy and improve data collection across commercial and recreational fishing categories.

Referido a Comisión(es)

Legislative bill overview

Bill PS 1013 proposes amendments to Puerto Rico's Fishing Law (Law 278-1998) to streamline and reduce bureaucratic procedures for obtaining, renewing, and validating fishing licenses across commercial and recreational categories. The bill mandates full digitization of fishing permit processes, consolidation of multiple permits into a single verifiable document, and electronic statistical reporting systems.

Why is this important

Fishing is a significant economic and cultural activity in Puerto Rico, affecting both commercial operators and recreational participants. Modernizing and simplifying licensing procedures could reduce compliance costs, administrative delays, and encourage formal participation in the fishing sector while improving data collection for fishery management and conservation.

Potential points of contention

Implementation costs: Digital infrastructure development and system integration may require substantial upfront government investment, raising questions about budget allocation and timeline feasibility

Stakeholder transition challenges: Commercial and recreational fishers accustomed to traditional processes may face learning curves and temporary disruptions during digitalization, potentially creating compliance gaps

Data security and privacy concerns: Consolidating fishing permits into digital systems raises questions about personal information protection, cybersecurity standards, and data accessibility by government agencies

Small-scale operator burden: Informal or small-scale fishers may face barriers accessing digital systems, potentially excluding vulnerable populations despite simplification intentions