17.—(1) Any person who–
(a)fails without reasonable excuse to comply with any requirement imposed by a British sea-fishery officer under the powers conferred on British sea-fishery officers by regulations 13, 14 and 15 of these Regulations;
(b)without reasonable excuse prevents, or attempts to prevent, any other person from complying with any such requirement; or
(c)assaults an officer who is exercising any of the powers conferred on the officer by regulations 13, 14 and 15 of these Regulations or intentionally obstructs any such officer in the exercise of any of those powers,
is guilty of an offence.
(2) A person guilty of an offence under paragraph (1) is liable–
(a)on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum; or
(b)on conviction on indictment to a fine.