Sea Fish Industry Act 1970

6 Power to make regulations about handling, etc. of white fish, and for other purposes

(1) With a view to improving the marketing and distribution of white fish, and the condition in which white fish are offered for sale, the Authority, after consultation with such bodies, if any, as appear to them to be representative of the interests concerned, may make regulations for all or any of the following purposes:—

(a) for regulating the handling and stowage of white fish on vessels to which this Part of this Act applies, being vessels registered in Great Britain, and for regulating the handling of white fish during or at any time after landing;

(b) for timing landings of white fish so as to secure regularity in the supply and prevent congestion in harbours, and for that purpose requiring vessels proposing to land their catch in Great Britain to land or delay landing it if so directed in accordance with the regulations;

(c) for regulating the sale of white fish, including the conditions of sale other than the price ;

(d) for prescribing standards of quality for white fish and limiting the purposes for which fish of any of the standards may be used.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) above, the regulations may include provision for securing economy or speed in handling white fish in markets and in the transportation of white fish, and the regulations—

(a) may for the purposes of paragraph (a) of that subsection regulate—

(i) the construction and equipping of holds in vessels to which this Part of this Act applies;

(ii) the construction, size, layout and equipping of the parts of such vessels used for processing white fish;

(iii) the equipping of vehicles used for transporting white fish;

(iv) the size and material of containers of white fish;

(b) may for the purposes of paragraph (c) of that subsection require disputes with respect to, or arising out of, any sale to be settled by arbitration in accordance with the regulations;

(c) may contain such incidental and supplementary provisions as appear to the Authority to be necessary or expedient for the purposes of the regulations.

(3) The Authority may also make regulations for prescribing anything required or authorised by this Part of this Act to be prescribed.

(4) Regulations made by the Authority under this Part of this Act may be made so as to apply either generally or to particular cases or classes of case and may make different provisions for different cases or classes of case, and in particular regulations under subsection (1) above may—

(a) make different provision for different areas or for fish of different descriptions;

(b) provide for granting exemptions (subject or not to conditions) for the purpose of paragraph (a) of that subsection.

(5) Regulations made by the Authority under this Part of this Act shall be of no effect unless confirmed by order of the Ministers, and any such order shall be subject to annulment by resolution of either House of Parliament.

(6) The provisions of Schedule 3 to this Act shall have effect with respect to the making and confirmation of such regulations.

(7) If any person contravenes the provisions of any regulations under subsection (1) above, he shall be guilty of an offence against this Part of this Act, and if a contravention of any such provision occurs in relation to any vessel to which this Part of this Act applies every person who is an owner, charterer or master of the vessel at the time of the contravention shall be guilty of such an offence.