Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1966

87 Restriction on possession of unlawful fishing engines, etc. N.I.

(1) It shall not be lawful for any person to have in his possession or control in any waters or on or near the banks of any waters any fishing engine or lure or bait, if the use of that engine, lure or bait in those waters for the purpose of taking fish is unlawful.

(2) Any person who has in his possession or control any fishing engine or lure or bait in contravention of this section shall be guilty of an offence.

(3) Where a person is charged with an offence under subsection (2) in relation to the possession or control of a net and it is proved that he was found in possession or control of the net in or in the vicinity of the freshwater portion of a river or any lake, it shall be presumed that he had the possession or control of the net with intent to use it in the freshwater portion of the river or in the lake in contravention of section 71(1) unless and until he satisfies the court that at the time the offence is alleged to have been committed—

(a) he intended and was entitled to use the net in one of the manners specified in section 71(2); or

(b) if he was found in possession or control of the net in the vicinity of the boundary between the tidal and freshwater portions of a river, that he intended and was entitled to use the net in the tidal portion of the river or in the sea;

and also proves, in either case, that he was the holder of a fishing licence, if such is required by or under this Act, for the net.