The Fishing Boats (Satellite-Tracking Devices) Scheme (Northern Ireland) 2013

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Scheme)

This Scheme makes provision for the payment of grants towards the cost of the purchase of satellite-tracking devices together with a 3-year warranty and their installation on board Northern Ireland sea fishing boats over 12 metres in length.

Article 9 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1224/2009 establishing a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the common fisheries policy requires a satellite-tracking device to be installed on board all fishing vessels of 12 metres’ length overall or more.

Funds for the payment of grants under this Scheme are provided for under Council Regulation (EC) No. 861/2006 and Commission Regulation (EU) No. 391/2007.

Article 3 describes the persons who are eligible to apply for a grant.

Article 4 provides that the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development may invite applications for a grant and sets out the requirements in respect of such invitations, the procedure for making an application for a grant, and specifies the circumstances in which applications may be accepted by the Department after the closing date for making applications.

Article 5 sets out the procedure for the Department to approve or reject applications.

Article 6 provides for the review of a decision to reject an application.

Article 7 provides for the payment of grants, including the amount of a grant, what it shall pay for, and the conditions which must be satisfied before the Department may make payment of a grant.

Article 8 provides for the withholding of payment of a grant or any part of it and the recovery of payment of a grant or part of a payment by the Department in certain cases.

Article 9 provides for the recovery of interest on amounts recovered under Article 8.

Article 10 revokes The Fishing Boats (Satellite-Tracking Devices) Scheme (Northern Ireland) 2004.

Section 17 of the Fisheries Act 1981 provides for offences in relation to the production of false information or documents in purported compliance with any requirement imposed by a Scheme made under Part II of the Fisheries Act 1981 and wilful refusal to supply information, make returns or produce documents when required to do so by or under a Scheme.

No regulatory impact assessment has been prepared for this Scheme as it has no direct impact on the costs of businesses, charities or the voluntary sector.