New rules mandate licences for fishing-related activities
The fisheries ministry has the power to cancel licences and withhold them without issuing a new licence in case of repeated violations.
By
Mariyam Umna Ismail
Fisheries ministry has enacted a new set of regulations to make it mandatory for fishing-related activities to be conducted with licences and to keep a ministry observer in certain circumstances on licensed vessels.
According to the ‘Regulations on Licensing of Fishing-Related Activities' published by the fisheries ministry in the on Wednesday, the rules were framed as follows:
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Prescribe licensing norms for fishing-related activities and formulate and manage such activities
The rules apply to:
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Vessels used to transport unweighed fish varieties from one place to another
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Vessels such as carriers purchased by a fish procurement facility
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Ice plant operators
As per the rules relating to licensing for fishing activities, the requirements for obtaining a licence are:
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Operation of fishing vessels in the country's territorial waters to transport fish that have not been weighed to a fishing port or fish processing facility from one place to another for direct purchase from fishing vessels
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To export fish; operate a carrier or a vessel used to transport fish from one port to another or from one facility to another
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Operation of ice plants to provide ice to fishermen
Under the new rule, the ministry is empowered to place an observer on a licensed vehicle. Thus:
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The ministry should issue a notice to the licensee at least 48 hours in advance when required to put an observer on a vehicle
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In such a situation, it has been stated that under the special permission granted by the Ministry to carry out the operation of the vessel, the operation of fish can be carried out in the presence of an observer appointed by the Ministry
While it has been stated that violators can be penalised, the ministry has the power to cancel licences and withhold them without issuing a new licence in case of repeated violations.
