NASSAU, BAHAMAS- Financial Secretary Simon Wilson is pushing back against industry criticism of The Bahamas’ new boating fee regime, saying “the numbers say the opposite” of what he called “gloom-and-doom” forecasts.
“There’s been a lot of chatter, a lot of people saying doom and gloom—that marinas will close, and marinas will suffer,” Wilson told the Rotary Club of West Nassau. “I can say with confidence, the numbers will tell you that’s the opposite.”
The new fee structure—which includes increases to temporary cruising permits and new charges for anchorage and fishing—has drawn pushback from marina operators and private boaters, some of whom have reported cancellations into the 2025–2026 winter season. But Wilson strongly defended the changes as necessary to preserve the country’s environment and ensure fiscal sustainability.
“The Bahamas is for Bahamians,” he said. “Yes, these are businesses, and we welcome them… but at the end of the day, these are our resources for our children, our grandchildren. We have to protect them.”
He argued that the rules are consistent with global standards, noting that boaters cannot simply anchor or fish freely in jurisdictions like Florida without permits or licenses.
Wilson said more than 10,000 unique boaters enter The Bahamas each year, with many paying nothing and some reportedly fishing and harvesting seafood for illegal resale abroad. He said the new system will support better enforcement and environmental protections.
“These fees… I don’t want to use the word nominal—they’re not nominal to me—but somebody who has a 150-foot, or 200-foot, or 300-foot [vessel]… these fees are nominal,” he said.
He also pointed to high occupancy and premium prices in yachting hotspots like the Exumas and Abacos as further proof the industry remains resilient.
“When you go into the Exumas, and you go into the Abacos… marinas there are doing very well,” Wilson said.
Wilson said the new fee regime is about protecting the country’s long-term interests: “They will be put to good use—protecting the environment, and ensuring that we protect our fiscal future going forward.”
