Sea Fisheries Act 1968

19 Interpretation. U.K.

(1) In this Act, except so far as the context otherwise requires,—

• [F1 “British fishing boat” means a fishing boat which either is registered in the United Kingdom under Part II of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 or is wholly British-owned;]

• “convention” includes an agreement or other arrangement;

• “convention area” means, in relation to any international convention, the area to which the convention relates;

• “enactment” includes an enactment of the Parliament of Northern Ireland;

• “fish” includes shellfish, and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly;

• “fishing boat” means any vessel for the time being employed in fishing operations or any operations ancillary thereto;

• [F2 “foreign fishing boat” means any fishing boat other than a [F3 relevant] British fishing boat [or a Scottish fishing boat;]]

• “foreign sea-fishery officer” has the meaning assigned to it by section 7 of this Act;

• “master” includes, in relation to any fishing boat, the person for the time being in command or charge of the boat;

• “the Ministers” means [F4 , in relation to England, Wales and Northern Ireland;] the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretaries of State respectively concerned with the sea fishing industry in Scotland and Northern Ireland [F4 and, in relation to Scotland, the Scottish Ministers];

• [F5 “relevant British fishing boat” means a British fishing boat which is not a Scottish fishing boat]

• [F5 “relevant British fishery limits” means British fishery limits so far as they do not relate to the Scottish zone]

• [F5 “Scottish fishing boat” means a fishing vessel which is registered in the register maintained under section 8 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 and whose entry in the register specifies a port in Scotland as the port to which the vessel is to be treated as belonging]

• [F5 “the Scottish zone” has the same meaning as in the Scotland Act 1998]

• . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F6

• “Sea Fisheries Acts” means any enactments for the time being in force relating to sea-fishing, [F7 including any Act of the Scottish Parliament and any subordinate legislation made under such an Act, and] including any enactment relating to fishing for shellfish, salmon or migratory trout.

• [F2 “wholly British-owned” means wholly owned by persons qualified to own British ships for the purposes of Part II of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995;]

(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F8

(3) Any reference in this Act to any other enactment is a reference thereto as amended, and includes a reference thereto as extended or applied by or under any other enactment, including this Act.

Textual Amendments

F1 Definition in s. 19(1) substituted (1.1.1996) by 1995 c. 21, ss. 314(2), 316(2), Sch. 13 para. 43(c)(i) (with s. 312(2))

F2 Definitions in s. 19(1) inserted (1.1.1996) by 1995 c. 21, ss. 314(2), 316(2), Sch. 13 para. 43(c)(ii) (with s. 312(1))

F3 Words in s. 19(1) inserted (1.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/1820, art. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. I para. 48(5)(b); S.I. 1998/3178, art. 3

F4 Words in s. 19(1) inserted (1.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/1820, art. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. I para. 48(5)(c); S.I. 1998/3178, art. 3

F5 Definitions in s. 19(1) inserted (1.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/1820, art. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. I para. 48(5)(a); S.I. 1998/3178, art. 3

F6 Definitions repealed by Sea Fish Industry Act 1970 (c. 11), Sch. 6 Pt. I and Fishery Limits Act 1976 (c. 86), Sch. 4

F7 Words in s. 19(1) inserted (1.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/1820, art. 4, Sch. 2 Pt. I para. 48(5)(d); S.I. 1998/3178, art. 3

F8 S. 19(2) repealed by Fishery Limits Act 1976 (c. 86), Sch. 4

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Reference to enactment of Parliament of Northern Ireland to be construed as including reference to Measure of Northern Ireland Assembly: Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (c. 36), Sch. 5 para. 1(1)