Panaricadorez introduces comprehensive new park fees
Thursday, May 15, 2008

The Government of Panaricadorez announced today that it is introducing a comprehensive set of new park fees.

As from yesterday, maritime areas are divided into two types of national parks: “Beaches” and “Islands”. River estuaries are not considered separately but included in one or the other. Inland lakes are excluded as are any glacial melts.

New fees

Yachts wishing to visit either Panaricadorez Beaches or Islands will be required to pay entrance and anchoring fees as follows:

Park entrance fee: $25/person/day.

Basic vessel charge: $2 per LOA-foot per day for all vessels anchoring off “Beaches” or “Islands”.

Depth charge: $1/day/foot/ of depth up to 100 feet of depth. The fee is reduced by 50% if the water is turbid.

Sail surcharge: Sailboats will be surcharged $10/day for each mainsail, $5 for each headsail and $7 for mizzen sails. (No charge for topgallants, topsails, etc.)

Snorkeling/Scuba charge: $50/person/day; Scuba diving: $100/person/day.

(N.B. For the safety of divers and to protect local flora and fauna, a licensed underwater guide is obligatory.)

These charges, surcharges and fees are in addition to mandatory Cruising Permits, a government spokesperson stated. Cruising permit fees were “adjusted” only last year and will not be changed for the moment, she added. “But we are reviewing our procedures for Cruising Permits with a view to making things more boater-friendly.”

“The aim of the new fee structure is to provide financing for the care and upkeep of waterfront properties,” said the spokesperson who wished to remain anonymous. “This will make our maritime environment so much more attractive for well-off international cruisers from the U.S.A., Canada and Europe,” he added seriously. “The compulsory use of underwater guides is for the safety of divers.”

Cruisers taken aback

The new fees and charges have taken cruisers aback. The American sailboat Myopic out of Miami, for example, was approached by an unmarked panga for the ostensible purpose of collecting the above fees while the US-registered yacht was setting the anchor in 35 feet of clear water near Isla Coitus some 200 miles offshore of Panaricadorez . The occupants of the panga claimed to be “park officials”.

Myopic’s skipper, veteran cruiser Bill Rudderless, told this paper upon arrival in the capital city that he was at first very skeptical about the panga’s bona fides. “We had never heard of these charges. But, we are of course always very eager to conform to any local rules and regulations. We are after all unofficial ambassadors of our country. So we paid up. We had planned to spend two weeks in the islands but have had to curtail our trip to three days because of the charges.”

Other skippers are not so accepting. “This is outrageous! Let’s face it; this is gouging! What a rip-off!” exclaimed Captain “Bucky” Beaver of the 32-foot, Vancouver-based ketch Cornutos. Arriving tired and wet from the neighboring Central American state of Guatelexico after a trying overnight bash to windward, Beaver was presented with a bill for $466, i.e., entrance and snorkeling fees for a crew of three, plus boat and depth charges; this was only for the first day. He was anchoring in a cove and some 400 feet from the beach in 40 feet of water at the time. “It’s bad enough that marina operators and Aduana officials charge far more than in the U.S.A. or Canada. Why don’t they just make us tax liable in the country of Panaricadorez as well! I only wanted to visit the islands in Panaricadorez, not buy the damned place!”

Other, mainly American cruisers, were more sanguine and regarded Beaver’s outburst as bad manners and typical of the overly-thrifty, not to say cheap approach to cruising so characeristic of Canadian cruisers. One American cruiser went so far as to say in response, “Typical! If you can’t afford the normal cost of international cruising you should get a job.”

Beaver on the other hand has received moral support from another quarter. In a satellite phone interview from his fishing canoe on Lake Melvin, Idaho, the president of the Sick Seas Cruising Association opined that things were getting out of hand. “I don’t get it. Are they trying to get boat-tourists to visit the place or scare 'em off? Has anyone down there ever heard of pricing theory? If you put up the price the demand normally goes down.”

The high value of the Euro these days may account for the occasional equanimity of European cruisers. Raising his eyebrows, a taciturn crewman aboard the German yacht Wotan, for example, observed, “Sure, dat’s a lotta money. Fuer $466 you can get a good lunch in Hamburg these days!”

Governments hard-pressed

Governments everywhere are finding themselves increasingly hard-pressed to fund the maintenance of totally deserted islands and beaches that after all are used only by visiting yachts. In accordance with IMF policies, user fees are seen to be the answer. “Surely cruisers from around the world want to find pristine beaches and coves when they come here,” an obviously irritated government spokesman stated. “They should be ready to contribute. After all, we have to pay the park rangers and the fee collectors that we now have to station there. Nothing’s for free, you know.”

New clearing-in procedures for yachts

On a more positive note, Panaricadorez’ business-oriented government will soon be making it easier for boaters to clear into the country. Instead of being required to visit the port captain at each stop, a single National Cruising Permit will be introduced good for one calendar year. While final details of the permit are not yet known, however, it is clear that the price will be increased substantially. But officials are saying that it will cover everything needed for cruising in Panaricadorez national waters - with the exception of course of the fees just announced for all Beaches and Islands (see above). Customs, Immigration and Homeland Security are also at present considering introducing new charges on boating activities, imports, etc. Spokespersons for these agencies say they will be addressing the needs of international yachters soon.

The government spokesperson for Panaricadorez also stated that the contentious issue of mandatory use of agents is also being reconsidered. After first introducing the requirement for foreign-flagged vessels and then expanding it to include small yachts, the requirement was dropped in favour of a compromise system. This allowed marina operators to act as surrogate agents.

At first this was greeted as an improvement. It was of obvious benefit to the marina operators who could recoup their money by increasing marina fees. But the new arrangements have met with mixed reception by boaters since it appears to put the marina operators in a monoploy position and discriminates against cruisers who wish simply to anchor or moor elsewhere. Since it was the marina operators who got the old rules changed in their favour, yachters say they aren't expepcting the marina operators to give up their privileged position to help others.


Footnote

The following message was circulated to boaters recently. The message applies to Panama rules but is not atypical of measures adopted in other countries in Central and South America. Not only are marina operators constantly jacking up the prices way in excess of local or international inflation rates, it seems that now governments are also into outright gouging as well.

Western Panama is really nice. But not worth these fees. Cruisers have no choice but to vote with their rudders. Maybe governments will get the message.

QUOTE
The protected marine areas in Panama fall into two fee
categories: Coiba National Park, and "others."

Coiba National Park encompasses islas Coiba, Jicaron, the
Contreras, Canal de Afuera.

Other protected marine areas include:

-Islas Cana and Iguana in Los Santos province;

-Taboga and Uraba in Panama province;

-Isla Bastimentos in Bocas del Toro; and

-Golfo de Chiriqui National Park, which encompasses a triangle
from Isla Parida to (but not including) Isla Boca Brava; it does
include islas Parida, Paridita, Gamez, Bolanos, San Jose, Saino,
Linarte, and Ventana.

Fees for Coiba National Park are $20/person. Anchoring fees per
day are $30 for a 25'-34' boat, $60 for 35'-49', and $180 for
50'-100'.

Fees for all other protected marine areas are $10/person, with
anchoring fees per day of $25 for a 25'-34' boat, $50 for
35'-49', and $100 for 50'-100'.

At this time, Coiba is the only area consistently enforcing this
ruling, although on at least one occasion in the past month a
boat has been approached at Isla Gamez.

There are many wonderful areas to enjoy in Panama. And entrance
fees supporting the protection of park systems are valid, but
hopefully there will be a modification of this ruling for the
anchoring fees.

If you are interested here is the ANAM website www.anam.gob.pa.
If you would like to write in your comments to ANAM regarding the anchoring fees write to: a.salazar@anam.gob.pa who is the Directora for Protected Areas and Forests.
UNQUOTE