Restriction on the number of drift net licences and draft net licences3.
(1)
Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the number of licences which the Commission may issue in any year under the 2001 Regulations in respect of any of the waters as described in column 1 of the Schedule shall not exceed the number specified in column 2 of the Schedule opposite the related description of the waters in column 1.
(2)
Where in any year an applicant who held a licence in the previous year is declared to be disqualified from holding a licence in accordance with section 75 of the Foyle Fisheries Act 1952 or section 74 of the Foyle Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1952 and the applicant is qualified and otherwise would be entitled to a licence in accordance with these Regulations then in the event that –
(a)
the period of disqualification will not expire before the end of the season the Commission shall correspondingly reduce the number of licences granted in that year in the appropriate waters specified in column 2 of the Schedule; or
(b)
the period of disqualification will expire before the end of the season the Commission shall retain the number of licences granted in that year in the appropriate waters specified in column 2 of the Schedule to enable it to grant him a licence for the remainder of the season.