Source: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2009/23/part/8/enacted
Timestamp: 2017-11-18 19:46:00
Document Index: 529277268

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art.\n238', 'art 2', 'art 8', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art.\n241', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'art.\n242', 'art 4', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2']

Chapter 1Enforcement officers
235Marine enforcement officers
(1)In this Chapter “marine enforcement officer” means—
(a)any person appointed as such an officer by the MMO;
(b)any person appointed as such an officer by the Welsh Ministers;
(c)any person who is a commissioned officer of any of Her Majesty’s ships;
(d)any person in command or charge of any aircraft or hovercraft of the Royal Navy, the Army or the Royal Air Force.
(2)The carrying out of any functions of a marine enforcement officer by a person appointed under this section by the MMO or the Welsh Ministers (a “civilian marine enforcement officer”) is subject to any limitations specified by the MMO or (as the case may be) the Welsh Ministers in relation to that person.
(3)Until the coming into force of section 1, any power conferred on the MMO by this section is exercisable by the Secretary of State.
Any reference in this Chapter to a marine enforcement officer includes a reference to any person appointed by the Secretary of State as a marine enforcement officer by virtue of this subsection.
236Enforcement of marine licensing regime
(1)For the purposes of enforcing Part 4 of this Act, a marine enforcement officer has—
(b)the power conferred by section 263.
(2)A marine enforcement officer does not have the powers referred to in subsection (1) for the purposes of enforcing Part 4 of this Act so far as relating to—
(a)any activity in Wales or the Welsh inshore region concerning or arising from the exploration for, or production of, petroleum;
(b)anything done in the course of taking installation abandonment measures in any other part of the relevant enforcement area.
(3)Subject to subsection (8), the powers which a marine enforcement officer has for the purposes of enforcing Part 4 of this Act may be exercised—
(a)in the relevant enforcement area (and in relation to any vessel, aircraft or marine structure in that area);
(b)in relation to any vessel or marine structure outside the UK marine area which was loaded within the relevant enforcement area;
(c)in relation to any British vessel, British aircraft or British marine structure outside the UK marine area;
(d)in Scotland or the Scottish inshore region, in relation to an offence which the officer reasonably believes has been committed—
(ii)outside the UK marine area and in circumstances where a vessel, aircraft or marine structure referred to in paragraph (b) or (c) was involved in the commission of the offence;
(e)in relation to any vessel, aircraft or marine structure in the Scottish offshore region which has been pursued there in accordance with subsection (4).
(4)A vessel, aircraft or marine structure is pursued in accordance with this subsection if—
(a)immediately before the pursuit of the vessel, aircraft or structure commences, the vessel, aircraft or structure is in the relevant enforcement area,
(b)before the pursuit of the vessel, aircraft or structure commences, a signal is given for it to stop, and
(c)the pursuit of the vessel, aircraft or structure is not interrupted.
(5)The signal referred to in subsection (4)(b) must be given in such a way as to be audible or visible from the vessel, aircraft or structure in question.
(8)The powers which a civilian marine enforcement officer has for the purposes of enforcing Part 4 of this Act may not be exercised in relation to any British warship.
“installation abandonment measures” means any measures taken in connection with the abandonment of—
an offshore installation or submarine pipeline, within the meaning of Part 4 of the Petroleum Act 1998 (c. 17), or
a carbon storage installation, within the meaning of section 30 of the Energy Act 2008 (c. 32),
whether or not the measures are taken in pursuance of an abandonment programme;
“abandonment programme” means—
an abandonment programme under Part 4 of the Petroleum Act 1998;
an abandonment programme under that Part, as it applies by virtue of section 30 of the Energy Act 2008;
England and Wales and Northern Ireland, and
the UK marine licensing area, excluding the Scottish offshore region.
(10)Any term used in this section and in Part 4 of this Act has the same meaning in this section as it has in that Part.
238Enforcement of fisheries legislation
(1)For the purposes of enforcing the fisheries legislation, a marine enforcement officer has—
(b)the powers conferred by sections 264, 268, 269, 279 and 284.
(4)Subject to subsection (9), the powers which a marine enforcement officer has for the purposes of enforcing the fisheries legislation may be exercised—
(b)in relation to any vessel, vehicle, aircraft or marine installation in any other area within the United Kingdom or the UK marine area which has been pursued there in accordance with subsection (5);
(c)in relation to any relevant British fishing boat in the Scottish zone or the Northern Ireland zone;
(d)in relation to any British vessel or British marine installation outside British fishery limits, other than a Scottish or Northern Ireland fishing boat.
(5)A vessel, vehicle, aircraft or marine installation is pursued in accordance with this subsection if—
(a)immediately before the pursuit of the vessel, vehicle, aircraft or installation commences—
(i)the vessel, vehicle, aircraft or installation is in the relevant enforcement area, or
(ii)in the case of a vessel, aircraft or marine installation operating together with one or more other vessels, aircraft or marine installations to carry out a single activity, any of those vessels, aircraft or installations is in that area,
(b)before the pursuit of the vessel, vehicle, aircraft or installation commences, a signal is given for it to stop, and
(c)the pursuit of the vessel, vehicle, aircraft or installation is not interrupted.
(6)The signal referred to in subsection (5)(b) must be given in such a way as to be audible or visible from the vessel, vehicle, aircraft or installation in question.
(8)Nothing in this section affects any right of hot pursuit which a marine enforcement officer may have under international law.
(9)The powers which a civilian marine enforcement officer has for the purposes of enforcing the fisheries legislation may not be exercised in relation to any British warship.
is wholly owned by persons qualified to own British ships for the purposes of that Part,
is, as a Government ship, registered in the United Kingdom in pursuance of an Order in Council under section 308 of that Act, or
is a British warship;
“Government ship” has the same meaning as in the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 (c. 21);
“relevant British fishing boat” means a fishing boat, other than a Scottish or Northern Ireland fishing boat, which—
is registered in the United Kingdom under Part 2 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, or
is wholly owned by persons qualified to own British ships for the purposes of that Part;
the sea within British fishery limits, excluding the Scottish zone and the Northern Ireland zone.
239Marine enforcement officers as British sea-fishery officers
(1)Section 7 of the Sea Fisheries Act 1968 (c. 77) (sea-fishery officers) is amended as follows.
“(ca)persons appointed as marine enforcement officers under section 235 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009;”;
(b)in paragraph (d), omit “of the Secretary of State or”.
“(1A)A person falling within paragraph (b), (c) or (ca) of subsection (1) above may not exercise the powers or perform the duties of a British sea-fishery officer in any case where the person may, in the person’s capacity as a marine enforcement officer, exercise the common enforcement powers conferred by the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (see Chapter 1 of Part 8 of that Act).”
(4)In subsection (5) (definition of “the appropriate Minister”), omit paragraph (a).
240Marine licensing: oil and gas and other reserved matters
(1)The Secretary of State may appoint persons for the purposes of enforcing Part 4 of this Act, so far as relating to—
(a)any activity in the Scottish offshore region falling within section 113(3) (activities relating to certain reserved matters);
(b)any activity in Wales or the Welsh inshore region concerning or arising from the exploration for, or production of, petroleum;
(c)anything done in the course of taking installation abandonment measures in any other part of the relevant enforcement area.
(2)For the purposes referred to in subsection (1), a person appointed under this section has—
(3)Subject to subsection (4), the powers which a person appointed under this section has for the purposes referred to in subsection (1) may be exercised—
(d)in Scotland or Northern Ireland, or the Scottish or Northern Ireland inshore region, in relation to an offence which the person reasonably believes has been committed—
(ii)outside the UK marine area and in circumstances where a vessel, aircraft or marine structure referred to in paragraph (b) or (c) was involved in the commission of the offence.
(4)The powers which a person appointed under this section has for the purposes referred to in subsection (1) may not be exercised in relation to any British warship.
(5)Nothing in this section affects any right of hot pursuit which a person appointed under this section may have under international law.
the UK marine licensing area, excluding the Northern Ireland inshore region.
(7)Any term used in this section and in Part 4 of this Act has the same meaning in this section as it has in that Part.
241Marine licensing: Northern Ireland
(1)The Department of the Environment in Northern Ireland may appoint persons for the purposes of enforcing Part 4 of this Act.
(2)For the purposes of enforcing Part 4 of this Act, a person appointed under this section has—
(3)A person appointed under this section does not have the powers referred to in subsection (2) for the purposes of enforcing Part 4 of this Act so far as relating to—
(b)anything done in the course of taking installation abandonment measures in any other part of the relevant enforcement area, other than Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland inshore region.
(4)Subject to subsection (9), the powers which a person appointed under this section has for the purposes of enforcing Part 4 of this Act may be exercised—
(b)in Scotland or the Scottish inshore region, in relation to an offence which the person reasonably believes has been committed within the relevant enforcement area;
(c)in relation to any vessel, aircraft or marine structure in the Scottish offshore region which has been pursued there in accordance with subsection (5).
(5)A vessel, aircraft or marine structure is pursued in accordance with this subsection if—
(6)The signal referred to in subsection (5)(b) must be given in such a way as to be audible or visible from the vessel, aircraft or structure in question.
(8)Nothing in this section affects any right of hot pursuit which a person appointed under this section may have under international law.
(9)The powers which a person appointed under this section has for the purposes of enforcing Part 4 of this Act may not be exercised in relation to any British warship.
(11)Any term used in this section and in Part 4 of this Act has the same meaning in this section as it has in that Part.
242Marine licensing: enforcement in Scottish offshore region
(1)The Scottish Ministers may appoint persons for the purposes of enforcing Part 4 of this Act, except so far as relating to any activity falling within section 113(3) (activities relating to certain reserved matters).
(3)Subject to subsection (8), the powers which a person appointed under this section has for the purposes referred to in subsection (1) may be exercised—
(a)in the Scottish offshore region (and in relation to any vessel, aircraft or marine structure in that region);
(b)in any area within the United Kingdom or the UK inshore region, in relation to an offence which the person reasonably believes has been committed within the Scottish offshore region;
(c)in relation to any vessel, aircraft or marine structure in any other area within the UK marine area which has been pursued there in accordance with subsection (4).
(a)immediately before the pursuit of the vessel, aircraft or structure commences, the vessel, aircraft or structure is in the Scottish offshore region,
(7)Nothing in this section affects any right of hot pursuit which a person appointed under this section may have under international law.
(8)The powers which a person appointed under this section has for the purposes referred to in subsection (1) may not be exercised in relation to any British warship.
(9)In this section “UK inshore region” means the area of sea within the seaward limits of the territorial sea adjacent to the United Kingdom.
243Enforcement of MCZs in Scottish offshore region
(1)The Scottish Ministers may appoint persons for the purposes of enforcing section 140 of this Act.
(2)For the purposes of enforcing section 140 of this Act, a person appointed under this section has the common enforcement powers conferred by this Act.
(3)Subject to subsections (8) and (9), the powers which a person appointed under this section has for the purposes of enforcing section 140 of this Act may be exercised—
(a)in the Scottish offshore region (and in relation to any vessel, aircraft or marine installation in that region);
(c)in relation to any vessel, aircraft or marine installation in any other area within the UK marine area which has been pursued there in accordance with subsection (4).
(a)immediately before the pursuit of the vessel, aircraft or installation commences, the vessel, aircraft or installation is in the Scottish offshore region,
(8)The powers which a person appointed under this section has for the purposes of enforcing section 140 of this Act may not be exercised in relation to any British warship.
(9)The powers which a person appointed under this section has for the purposes of enforcing section 140 of this Act may not be exercised in relation to any vessel within subsection (10) unless—
(13)In this section “UK inshore region” means the area of sea within the seaward limits of the territorial sea adjacent to the United Kingdom.
Chapter 2Common enforcement powers
247Power to enter and inspect premises
(3)An enforcement officer may require any person in or on the premises to afford such facilities and assistance with respect to matters under that person’s control as the officer considers would facilitate the exercise of the power conferred by this section.
248Power to enter and inspect vehicles
249Dwellings
250Powers of search, examination, etc
(a)search or examine anything which appears to be in the person’s possession or control;
251Power to require production of documents, etc
(2)The officer may require any person in or on the relevant premises to produce any document or record that is in the person’s possession or control.
252Powers of seizure, etc
(2)Where an enforcement officer reasonably believes that a person is or has been carrying on a relevant activity, the officer may seize and detain or remove any item which appears to be in the person’s possession or control.
253Further provision about seizure
(4)Where an enforcement officer is exercising a power of inspection conferred by section 246, 247 or 248, the officer may require any person in or on the relevant premises to afford such facilities and assistance with respect to matters under that person’s control as the officer considers would facilitate the exercise of any power conferred by section 252 or this section.
(5)Where an enforcement officer reasonably believes that a person is or has been carrying on a relevant activity, the officer may require that person to afford such facilities and assistance with respect to matters under that person’s control as the officer considers would facilitate the exercise in relation to that person of any power conferred by section 252 or this section.
(b)in the definition of “premises”, after “offshore installation” insert “or other marine installation”.
254Retention of seized items
255Power to record evidence of offences
(1)An enforcement officer may use any device for the purpose of taking visual images of anything which the officer believes is evidence of the commission of a relevant offence.
(3)The officer may require any person in or on the vessel, marine installation, premises or vehicle to afford such facilities and assistance with respect to matters under that person’s control as the officer considers would facilitate the exercise of the power conferred by this section.
256Power to require name and address
Where an enforcement officer reasonably believes that a person has committed a relevant offence, the officer may require the person to provide the person’s name and address.
258Power to require attendance of certain persons
(1)This section applies where an enforcement officer has—
(a)boarded a vessel or marine installation, or
(b)entered any premises.
(2)For the purposes of carrying out any relevant functions, the officer may require the attendance of—
(a)the person who is for the time being in charge of the vessel or marine installation;
(b)any other person who is on board the vessel or marine installation;
(c)the owner or occupier of the premises;
(d)any person who is on the premises.
260Assistance etc
(1)To assist in carrying out any relevant functions, an enforcement officer may bring—
(a)any other person;
(2)A person who is brought by an enforcement officer to provide assistance may exercise any powers conferred by this Act which the officer may exercise, but only under the supervision or direction of the officer.
261Power to use reasonable force
(1)An enforcement officer may use reasonable force, if necessary, in the exercise of any power conferred by this Act.
(2)A person assisting an enforcement officer under section 260 may use reasonable force, if necessary, in the exercise of any power conferred by this Act.
262Interpretation of this Chapter
“common enforcement power” means any power conferred by sections 246 to 261;
“enforcement officer” has the meaning given by section 245;
“item” has the meaning given by section 250(10);
“justice” has the meaning given by section 249(5);
“premises” has the meaning given by section 247(4);
“relevant activity”, “relevant function” and “relevant offence” have the meaning given by section 245;
(2)In this Chapter any reference to a vessel includes a reference to—
(a)any ship or boat or any other description of vessel used in navigation,
(b)any hovercraft, submersible craft or other floating craft, and
(c)any aircraft,
Chapter 3Licensing enforcement powers
263Power to require information relating to certain substances and objects
(1)A person who has the power conferred by this section may require any person—
(a)to give details of any substances or objects on board a vehicle, vessel, aircraft or marine structure;
(b)to give information concerning any substances or objects lost from a vehicle, vessel, aircraft or marine structure.
(2)A statement made by a person in response to a requirement made under this section may not be used against the person in criminal proceedings in which the person is charged with an offence to which this subsection applies.
(3)Subsection (2) applies to any offence other than an offence under one of the following provisions (which concern false statements made otherwise than on oath)—
(4)In this section “marine structure” and “vessel” have the meaning given by section 115.
264Power to inspect and seize objects at sea
(1)For the purposes of carrying out any relevant functions, an enforcement officer who has the power conferred by this section may inspect any object in the sea which the officer believes has been or is being used for or in connection with fishing.
The officer may lift an object out of the sea for the purposes of inspecting it under this section.
(2)An enforcement officer who has inspected an object under this section may seize the object.
(3)The power conferred by subsection (2) may only be exercised—
(b)in relation to an object which an enforcement officer reasonably believes to be evidence of the commission of a relevant offence.
(4)If, having inspected an object under this section, the officer decides not to seize it under subsection (2), the officer must, if it is reasonably practicable to do so, replace the object in the location where it was found.
(5)If it is not reasonably practicable to replace the object in accordance with subsection (4), the officer may seize the object until such time as it may be collected by its owner.
(6)Any power conferred by this section to seize an object includes power to seize—
(a)anything that is attached to the object;
(b)anything that is contained within the object.
(7)Any reference in this section to replacing an object includes, in the case of fishing gear, a reference to re-setting the gear in the same way in which it was placed in the sea.
(8)The powers conferred on an enforcement officer by this section are without prejudice to any powers exercisable by the officer apart from this section.
265Reports of inspections under section 264
(1)This section applies where an enforcement officer inspects any object under section 264.
(a)the date and time of the inspection;
(b)the identity of the officer who carried out the inspection;
(4)In the case of an object seized under section 264(2) or (5), the report must also state—
(b)the reasons for its seizure;
(5)Where the object has not been seized under section 264(2) or (5), the officer must, if it is reasonably practicable to do so, attach a copy of the report to the object.
If it is not reasonably practicable to attach a copy of the report to the object, the officer must serve a copy of the report on every person who appears to the officer to be the owner, or one of the owners, of the object.
(6)In a case where the officer, after taking reasonable steps to do so, is unable to identify any person as owning the object, the officer must take such steps as the officer thinks fit to bring the contents of the report to the attention of persons likely to be interested in it.
(a)the object has been seized under section 264(2), and
(b)either of the conditions in subsection (8) is satisfied,
the relevant authority must, if it has not already done so, serve a copy of the report on every person who appears to the authority to be the owner, or one of the owners, of the object.
(a)that the relevant authority has decided not to take proceedings in respect of any offence in relation to which the object was seized;
(b)that any proceedings taken in respect of such an offence have concluded.
(9)Where the object has been seized under section 264(5), the relevant authority must serve a copy of the report on every person who appears to the authority to be the owner, or one of the owners, of the object at the same time as it serves a notice of collection on that person under section 267.
(10)In a case where the relevant authority, after taking reasonable steps to do so, is unable to identify any person as owning the object—
(a)any reference in this section to a requirement for the authority to serve a copy of a report on such a person is to be read as a reference to a requirement to take such steps as the authority thinks fit to bring the contents of the report to the attention of persons likely to be interested in it, and
(b)the reference in subsection (9) to serving a notice of collection under section 267 is to be read as a reference to taking the steps referred to in subsection (5) of that section.
266Retention of objects seized under section 264(2)
(1)Any object seized by an enforcement officer under section 264(2) may be retained by the relevant authority.
(2)If either of the grounds of release in subsection (3) applies, the relevant authority must, as soon as is reasonably practicable, make the object available for collection.
(3)The grounds of release referred to in subsection (2) are—
(b)that any proceedings taken in respect of such an offence have concluded without any order for forfeiture having been made.
(4)But subsection (2) does not apply if the object is liable to forfeiture under section 275 or 276.
(5)Any reference in this section to an object seized under subsection (2) of section 264 includes a reference to anything seized by virtue of subsection (6) of that section.
267Disposal of objects seized under section 264
(a)any object seized under section 264(2) which the relevant authority—
(i)no longer wishes to retain for any purpose, or
(ii)is required to make available for collection by virtue of section 266;
(b)any object seized under section 264(5).
(a)the object specified in the notice is available to be collected from the location so specified, and
(b)if the object is not collected before the end of the period of three months beginning with the date specified in the notice, the relevant authority will dispose of the object.
(3)The relevant authority must serve a notice of collection on every person who appears to the authority to be the owner, or one of the owners, of the object.
(4)The relevant authority may take any other steps it thinks fit to notify every such person that the object is available to be collected.
(5)If the relevant authority, after taking reasonable steps to do so, is unable to identify any person as owning the object in order to serve a notice of collection, the relevant authority must take such steps as it thinks fit to bring the information contained in the notice of collection to the attention of persons likely to be interested in it.
(6)If the relevant authority complies with subsection (3) or subsection (5), as the case may be, the relevant authority may, at the end of the period mentioned in subsection (2)(b), dispose of the object in whatever way it thinks fit.
(7)Any reference in this section to an object seized under subsection (2) or (5) of section 264 includes a reference to anything seized by virtue of subsection (6) of that section.
269Power to seize fishing gear for purposes of forfeiture
(1)An enforcement officer who has the power conferred by this section may seize and detain or remove any fishing gear which the officer reasonably believes has been used in the commission of a relevant offence.
(2)The power conferred by this section may only be exercised for the purposes of securing that, in the event of a conviction for a relevant offence, the court may exercise any relevant power of forfeiture in relation to fishing gear used in the commission of the offence.
(3)If, in the opinion of an enforcement officer, it is not for the time being practicable for the officer to seize and remove any fishing gear, the officer may require—
(a)the person from whom the fishing gear is being seized, or
to secure that the fishing gear is not removed or otherwise interfered with until such time as the officer may seize and remove it.
(4)Where an enforcement officer is exercising a power of inspection conferred by section 246, 247 or 248, the officer may require any person in or on the relevant premises to afford such facilities and assistance with respect to matters under that person’s control as the officer considers would facilitate the exercise of any power conferred by this section.
(5)Where an enforcement officer reasonably believes that a person is or has been carrying on a relevant activity, the officer may require that person to afford such facilities and assistance with respect to matters under that person’s control as the officer considers would facilitate the exercise in relation to that person of any power conferred by this section.
“relevant power of forfeiture” means any power of a court to order the forfeiture of any fishing gear used in the commission of an offence;
271Retention of property seized under section 268 or 269
(1)Any property seized by an enforcement officer under section 268 or 269 may be retained by the relevant authority.
(2)If either of the grounds for release in subsection (3) applies, the relevant authority must, as soon as is reasonably practicable, make the property available for collection.
(3)The grounds for release referred to in subsection (2) are—
(a)that the relevant authority has decided not to take proceedings in respect of any offence in relation to which the property was seized;
(4)But subsection (2) does not apply if the property is liable to forfeiture under section 275 or 276.
272Bonds for release of seized fish or gear
(1)This section applies to any property which is being retained by the relevant authority under section 271.
(2)The relevant authority may enter into an agreement with any person falling within subsection (3) for security for the property to be given to the relevant authority by way of bond in return for the release of the property.
(a)the owner, or any of the owners, of the property;
(b)in the case of property seized from a vessel, the owner or charterer, or any of the owners or charterers, of the vessel.
(4)Any bond given under this section is to be—
(5)A person who gives a bond under this section must comply with such conditions as to the giving of the bond as the relevant authority may determine.
(6)If either of the grounds for release mentioned in subsection (7) applies, then any bond given under this section must be returned as soon as possible.
(7)The grounds for release referred to in subsection (6) are—
(8)Any power which a court has to order the forfeiture of any fish or any fishing gear may instead be exercised in relation to any bond given under this section as security for that fish or fishing gear.
273Power of relevant authority to sell seized fish in its possession
(1)Any fish which are being retained by the relevant authority under section 271 may be sold by the authority.
(2)Any power which a court has to order the forfeiture of any fish may instead be exercised in relation to the proceeds of any sale of the fish under this section.
(3)Subject to subsection (6), the proceeds of any sale under this section may be retained by the relevant authority until such time as—
(b)either of the grounds for release mentioned in subsection (4) applies.
(4)The grounds for release referred to in subsection (3) are—
(a)that the relevant authority has decided not to take proceedings in respect of any offence in relation to which the fish were seized;
(5)If either of the grounds for release mentioned in subsection (4) applies, the relevant authority must, as soon as is reasonably practicable, release the proceeds of sale to any person who appears to the authority to have been the owner, or one of the owners, of the fish at the time of the seizure of the fish.
(6)If the proceeds of sale are still in the relevant authority’s possession after the end of the period of six months beginning with the date on which the fish were sold, the relevant authority may retain the proceeds and apply them in any manner it thinks fit.
The relevant authority may exercise its power under this subsection to retain and apply the proceeds of sale only if it is not practicable at the time when the power is exercised to dispose of the proceeds by releasing them immediately to the person to whom they are required to be released.
(7)Subject to subsection (9), any fish sold under this section must be sold at auction.
(8)Before selling the fish, the relevant authority must give the owner of the fish a reasonable opportunity to make representations as to the manner in which the fish are sold.
(a)the owner of the fish requests that the fish be sold—
(i)at a particular auction, or
(ii)by a method of sale other than auction,
(b)the relevant authority does not consider that it would be unreasonable to comply with that request,
the relevant authority must comply with the request when selling the fish.
(10)The relevant authority may deduct any reasonable expenses it has incurred in selling any fish under this section from the proceeds of the sale.
(11)In a case where there is more than one owner of the fish, subsection (9) applies only if the request is made by or on behalf of all of them.
279Power to detain vessels in connection with court proceedings
284Power to require production of certain equipment
(1)An enforcement officer who has the power conferred by this section may require any person on board a vessel to produce any equipment falling within subsection (2).
(2)The equipment referred to in subsection (1) is—
(a)any automatic recording equipment or transmitting equipment used in accordance with a condition included in a licence by virtue of section 4(6) or 4A(6) of the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967 (c. 84);
(b)any equipment which is required to be carried on board a vessel by virtue of a byelaw made by an inshore fisheries and conservation authority under section 155;
(c)any equipment which is required to be carried on board a vessel by virtue of an order made by the Welsh Ministers under section 189.
285Service of notices, etc
(1)Any notice or other thing that is required to be served on or given to a person under any provision of this Chapter may be served on or given to the person only by one of the following methods—
(d)in any other case, the person’s usual or last known place of residence in the United Kingdom or last known place of business in the United Kingdom.
286Conclusion of proceedings
(1)This section applies for determining when any proceedings have concluded for the purposes of this Chapter.
287Interpretation of this Chapter
in relation to the seizure of any object or property by an enforcement officer, the person or body on whose behalf the officer who seized it was acting;
in relation to the detention of a vessel by an enforcement officer, the person or body on whose behalf the officer who detained the vessel was acting;
Chapter 5Common enforcement provisions
289Duty to provide evidence of authority
(1)Before exercising any power conferred by this Part, an enforcement officer must, if requested to do so, produce evidence that the officer is authorised to exercise that power.
(2)An enforcement officer may exercise a power conferred by this Part only if the officer complies with the duty imposed by subsection (1).
(3)If, at the time the request is made, the officer does not consider it practicable to produce the evidence referred to in subsection (1), that subsection does not apply until such time as the officer considers it practicable to comply with the request.
(4)Nothing in this section applies to a person falling within paragraph (c) or (d) of section 235(1).
290Duty to state name and purpose, etc
(1)Before exercising any power conferred by this Part, an enforcement officer must, if requested to do so, give the information in subsection (3).
(2)Before exercising any power conferred by this Part, any person assisting an enforcement officer by virtue of section 260 must, if requested to do so, give the information in paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (3).
(b)the power the person is proposing to exercise;
(4)A person may exercise a power conferred by this Part only if the person complies with the duty imposed by subsection (1) or the duty imposed by subsection (2) (as the case may be).
(5)If, at the time the request is made, the person does not consider it practicable to give the information referred to in subsection (1) or the information referred to in subsection (2) (as the case may be), that subsection does not apply until such time as the person considers it practicable to comply with the request.
Liability of enforcement officers
291Liability of enforcement officers etc
(1)A person within subsection (2) is not to be liable in any civil or criminal proceedings for anything done (or omitted to be done) in, or in connection with, the discharge or purported discharge of the person’s functions under this Act.
(a)any enforcement officer;
(b)any person assisting an enforcement officer by virtue of section 260.
(a)if the act or omission is shown to have been in bad faith,
(b)if there were no reasonable grounds for the act or omission, or
(c)so as to prevent an award of damages in respect of the act or omission on the ground that it was unlawful as a result of section 6(1) of the Human Rights Act 1998 (c. 42) (acts of public authorities incompatible with Convention rights).
Offences in relation to enforcement officers
292Offences in relation to enforcement officers
(a)the person fails without reasonable excuse to comply with a requirement reasonably made, or a direction reasonably given, by an enforcement officer in the exercise of any power conferred by this Part, or
(2)A person is not guilty of an offence by reason of a failure to comply with a requirement made under subsection (1) of section 257 if the person complies with subsection (2) of that section.
(3)A person who provides information in pursuance of a requirement reasonably made by an enforcement officer in the exercise of the power conferred by section 263 is guilty of an offence if—
(a)the information is false in a material particular, and the person knows that it is or is reckless as to whether it is, or
(4)A person who intentionally obstructs an enforcement officer in the performance of any of the officer’s functions under this Act is guilty of an offence.
(5)A person who assaults an enforcement officer in the performance of any of the officer’s functions under this Act is guilty of an offence.
(6)A person who, with intent to deceive, falsely pretends to be an enforcement officer is guilty of an offence.
(10)Proceedings for an offence under this section may be taken, and the offence may for all incidental purposes be treated as having been committed, in any part of the United Kingdom.
(11)In this section any reference to an enforcement officer includes a reference to a person assisting an enforcement officer by virtue of section 260.
Chapter 6Miscellaneous and supplementary
293Enforcement of Community rules
(1)Section 30 of the Fisheries Act 1981 (c. 29) (enforcement of Community rules) is amended as follows.
(a)after “enforceable Community restrictions” insert “, and enforceable Community obligations,”;
(d)in paragraph (b), for “such offences” substitute “offences under paragraph (a), (aa) or (ab) of this subsection”;
(e)in paragraph (c), after “restrictions” insert “and obligations”.
a fishing boat which is registered in the United Kingdom under Part 2 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 and whose entry in the register specifies a port in England as the port to which the boat is to be treated as belonging; or
a fishing boat which is wholly owned by persons qualified to own British ships for the purposes of that Part, other than—
a Welsh, Scottish or Northern Ireland fishing boat,
a fishing boat within subsection (2C) above, or
a fishing boat registered in any country or territory other than the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man or any of the Channel Islands;”;
““Scottish fishing boat” means a fishing boat which is registered in the United Kingdom under Part 2 of that Act and whose entry in the register specifies a port in Scotland as the port to which the boat is to be treated as belonging;”;
““Welsh fishing boat” means a fishing boat which is registered in the United Kingdom under Part 2 of that Act and whose entry in the register specifies a port in Wales as the port to which the boat is to be treated as belonging.”
Administrative penalty schemes
294Administrative penalty schemes
(1)The appropriate national authority for any area may by order make provision to confer on any enforcement authority for that area the power to issue penalty notices for offences within subsection (2).
(2)The offences referred to in subsection (1) are offences relating to sea fishing, other than—
(a)an offence under section 30 of the Fisheries Act 1981 (c. 29) or any order made under that section;
(b)an offence under regulations made under section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 (c. 68).
(3)A penalty notice is a notice offering the opportunity, by payment of a specified sum of money, to discharge any liability to be convicted of the offence to which the notice relates.
(4)The provision that may be made by an order under subsection (1) includes—
(a)provision prescribing the offences in relation to which penalty notices may be issued;
(b)provision as to circumstances in which penalty notices may be issued;
(c)provision as to the content and form of penalty notices;
(d)provision as to how the amount of any penalty that may be specified in a penalty notice is to be determined;
(e)provision for the issuing of guidance by the appropriate national authority as to matters to be taken into account when making such a determination;
(f)provision prescribing the minimum or maximum amount of any penalty;
(g)provision about the payment of penalties, including provision as to the period within which any penalty must be paid;
(h)provision for and in connection with the withdrawal of penalty notices;
(i)provision as to circumstances in which proceedings for an offence may be commenced after the payment of a penalty in relation to that offence.
(5)An order under subsection (1) may apply in relation to—
(c)any vessels in waters within British fishery limits, other than—
(i)the Scottish zone,
(ii)the Northern Ireland zone, and
(iii)the territorial sea adjacent to the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey;
(d)any English or Welsh fishing boats, wherever they may be.
(6)Her Majesty may by Order in Council provide for this section to apply, with or without modifications, to any fishing boat within subsection (7) that is outside British fishery limits as it applies to any English or Welsh fishing boat outside those limits.
(7)A fishing boat is within this subsection if—
(a)it is registered under the law of the Isle of Man or any of the Channel Islands, or
(b)it is wholly owned by persons qualified for the purposes of the law relating to the registration of vessels in the Isle of Man or any of the Channel Islands to own fishing vessels which are entitled to be registered as such under that law.
in relation to Wales or vessels within the Welsh zone, the Welsh Ministers;
in relation to England or vessels outside the Welsh zone, the Secretary of State;
“enforcement authority” means, in relation to any area, any authority which has a function (whether or not statutory) of taking any action with a view to or in connection with the imposition of any sanction, criminal or otherwise, in a case where an offence within subsection (2) is committed in that area;
“English fishing boat” means—
a fishing boat which is registered in the United Kingdom under Part 2 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 (c. 21) and whose entry in the register specifies a port in England as the port to which the boat is to be treated as belonging, or
a fishing boat within subsection (7) above, or
a fishing boat registered in any country or territory other than the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man or any of the Channel Islands;
“sea fishing” includes fishing for or taking shellfish;
“vessel” includes any ship or boat or any description of vessel used in navigation;
“Wales” includes the Welsh inshore region;
“Welsh fishing boat” means a fishing boat which is registered in the United Kingdom under Part 2 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 and whose entry in the register specifies a port in Wales as the port to which the boat is to be treated as belonging.
295Application to the Crown
(1)The provisions of Chapters 1 to 5 of this Part are binding on the Crown.
(2)No contravention by the Crown of any provision of Chapter 5 is to make the Crown criminally liable; but the High Court or, in Scotland, the Court of Session may declare unlawful any act or omission of the Crown which constitutes such a contravention.
(3)Despite subsection (2), the provisions of Chapters 1 to 5 of this Part apply to persons in the public service of the Crown as they apply to other persons.