The Department of Environmental Protection said all applications and fees for fishing boat re-licensing must be processed by 5 p.m. on Friday.

In its release yesterday, Environmental Protection also said all fishing statistics for fishing in 2005 must be received by Friday.

"The effective date for the commencement of the duty rebate programme on diesel fuel for commercial fishing vessels is April 1," the release said. "Only full-time fishermen will be eligible for this programme. Government proof-of-purchase forms will be available at all marina outlets for those fishermen who intend to claim the fuel rebate."

It said fuel rebate application forms and all relevant invoices and receipts would be processed on a quarterly basis from June.

Additional information is available from Environmental Protection's Norbert Simmons at 239-2319, it said.