NASSAU, BAHAMAS — New measures and environmental policies aimed at the boating sector, outlined in the Davis administration’s 2025/2026 national budget, are being met with skepticism by some industry stakeholders, who argue the changes are largely repackaged ideas that add costs without meaningful reform.
The initiatives include an environmental levy on seabed leases for commercial use, mandatory cruising permits for tenders 25 feet and over, and the long-promised Frequent Visitors Digital Card for private vessels.
Peter Maury, president of the Association of Bahamas Marinas, said the proposals amount to more taxation and red tape, without addressing long-standing issues like enforcement or stakeholder engagement.
“I mean, the cruising permit for the tenders is nothing new. Customs has been doing it, so I don’t see a big problem with that,” said Maury.
As for the environmental levy, Maury noted: “I mean, that’s just another tax, you know. We already pay that. So they’re just adding a tax on a tax and calling it a levy, you know. In my opinion, there’s nothing—you know, they’re not doing anything new. They’re just increasing the tax.”
He also cast doubt on the efficacy of proposed environmental penalties aimed at protecting marine ecosystems.
“Environmental penalties discourage harmful practices. We have those laws. Are they going to enforce them? It’s just for optics, in my opinion.”
On the proposed Frequent Visitors Digital Card, Maury said the idea is long overdue and has been championed by the industry for years.
“We’ve been asking for that for four years. Hopefully, what they’re doing is what we’ve been asking for,” said Maury. “This has already been done. If you enter The Bahamas several times in 90 days, you don’t pay. The problem was that they put in Click to Clear, which was a ton of questions and takes forever to fill out. If you exit the country and come back six months later, you have to start from zero. I have a Bahrain-registered boat if I go to the US all I need is a cruise permit, but my profile already exisits, and I can use my existing profile.
Maury emphasized the lack of consultation in policy roll-outs and expressed doubt about the government’s ability to follow through.
During his budget communication, Prime Minister Philip Davis noted that the government will introduce a framework to implement an Environmental Levy on seabed leases for commercial activity “to reflect the true value of our marine territory.”
He noted that the government will also “enforce a cruising permit fee for tenders and boats 25 feet or larger, ensuring every vessel has its own valid permit; and introduce environmental penalties to discourage harmful practices and preserve the health of our marine ecosystems.”
