Fisheries (Consolidation) Act, 1959

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Provisions in relation to foreign sea-fishing boats lawfully entering the exclusive fishery limits of the State.

222.—(1) If any foreign sea-fishing boat enters within the exclusive fishery limits of the State for—

(a) a purpose recognised by international law, or

(b) a purpose recognised by any convention, treaty or arrangement for the time being in force between the State and the country to which such boat belongs, or

(c) any other lawful purpose,

then—

(i) such boat shall leave the exclusive fishery limits of the State as soon as the purpose for which such boat so entered has been answered,

(ii) no person on board such boat shall fish or attempt to fish while such boat is within the exclusive fishery limits of the State,

(iii) any regulations made under subsection (2) of this section and for the time being in force shall be duly observed.

(2) The Minister may make regulations in relation to the maintenance of good order amongst foreign sea-fishing boats for the time being within the exclusive fishery limits of the State and the persons on board such boats.

(3) If there has been, in relation to any foreign sea-fishing boat which has lawfully entered within the exclusive fishery limits of the State or in relation to the persons on board her, a contravention (whether by commission or omission) of subsection (1) of this section, then, the master of such boat shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof, in the case of a first offence under this section to a fine not exceeding fifty pounds and, in the case of a second or any subsequent offence under this section to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds and (whether the offence is a first offence or not) the Court shall, in case any person on board such boat had fished or attempted to fish while such boat was within such exclusive fishery limits, and may, in any other case, order any fish and fishing gear found on such boat to be forfeited.