Sea Fisheries (Shellfish) Act 1967

14 Supplementary provisions as to orders under ss. 12 and 13

(1) Where the appropriate Minister makes an order under section 12 or 13 of this Act, he shall take such steps (whether by the publication or display of notices or otherwise) as he may consider most suitable for informing all persons concerned of the effect of the order.

(2) Any person who contravenes the provisions of any order made under the said section 12 or 13 (including any person who contravenes those provisions by not complying with any conditions specified in a licence granted thereunder) shall be guilty of an offence under this subsection, and shall be liable on summary conviction—

(a) in the case of a first offence under this subsection, to a fine not exceeding £100;

(b) in the case of a second or subsequent offence under this subsection, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months, or a fine not exceeding £200, or both.

(3) A person authorised in that behalf by the appropriate Minister (in this section referred to as an " inspector ") shall, subject to subsection (4) of this section, have the right, at any reasonable time, to enter any land designated by an order under the said section 12, or any waters, or land covered by waters, designated by such an order, where either—

(a) the inspector has reasonable grounds for believing that the prohibition imposed by the order is being or has been contravened, or

(b) entry is required for the purpose of removing any shellfish which the appropriate Minister is empowered to remove under subsection (5) of that section ;

and an inspector having a right to enter any land or waters under this subsection shall also have the right to obtain and take away samples (which shall be marked, labelled or otherwise made capable of identification) of any shellfish found there,

and to dispose of any such sample as the inspector may determine:

Provided that where an inspector enters any land or waters by virtue of paragraph (a) above, he shall retain any shellfish so taken for as long as may be necessary to secure that they are available for production in any proceedings for an offence under this section in respect of the contravention in question.

(4) A right of entry under subsection (3) of this section shall not be exercisable in respect of any occupied land unless not less than twenty-four hours' notice of the intended entry has been given to the occupier; and the inspector shall, if so required, produce written evidence of his authority before entering.

(5) Any person who obstructs an inspector in the exercise of any right conferred by subsection (3) of this section shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £50.