During 2003 the BVI Fishing Police went out to North Drop and arrested several vessels for fishing without the boat being properly registered or people fishing aboard without a licence. Some were US mainland private boats, one was a PR Boat, and the Black Pearl a USVI based boat on a Marlin charter fishing trip was given the hardest time $45K when it was finally settled. Then again in 2007 the PoPo went out and stop a couple from the USVI for fishing without proper boat registration and individual fishing licenses. That guy Baker a retired lawyer and cop from VA. Spent weeks in the prison. In every case I can think of the boat is confiscated until the matter is settled or suitable bond posted. When the fisherman had more than 30lbs of fish aboard the crime was raised to commercial fishing and the operators where never given the boat back. The process and fines are not that different than if you are caught failing to clear customers and immigration or using the waters without cruising permits. Sometime you get lucky and get a warning. Other times the boat gets locked up and crew brought before a judge to sort it out. As the BVI modernizes the fees for marine activities. Some may try to hide and operate out of the USVI. Watch for few more of the USVI boats to get persecuted as examples repeating 2003 and 2007. If one of the BVI fleets causes a stink and publicly refuses to register the fleet for non commercial fishing. Watch for a couple of boats from that fleet to be made an example of. No matter what jurisdiction you are in. The owner and captain is responsible for anything illegal that happens on their boat. Drugs are the clearest example. If you read any bareboat contract. Whatever happens on your week is your problem financially and you are accountable to keep paying the rent and damages until you bring the boat back. To your friend the boat owner. Have her read all the terms that her customers sign on to with her. Look for new agreements or addendums declaring NO FISHING.