Part I
Preliminary
1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1
2 Short title.
This Act may be cited as “The Sea Fisheries Act 1868.”
3, 4.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F2
5 Interpretation of terms: “Sea-fish:” “Sea-fishing boat:” “British Islands:” “Court:”
In this Act—
The term “sea-fish” does not include salmon, as defined by any Act relating to salmon, but, save as aforesaid, includes every description both of fish and of shell fish which is found in the seas to which this Act applies; and “sea-fishing,” “sea-fisherman,” and other expressions referring to sea-fish, shall in this Act be construed to refer only to sea-fish as before defined:
The term “Sea-fishing boat” includes every vessel, of whatever size, and in whatever way propelled, which is used by any person in sea-fishing, or in carrying on the business of a sea-fisherman.
The term “British Islands” includes the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Isle of Man, the islands of Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, and Sark, and their dependencies . . . F3
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F4
The term “court” includes any tribunal or magistrate exercising jurisdiction under this Act:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F5
Part II Convention and Fisheries
6—21.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F6
Registry of Sea Fishing Boats
22—24.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F7
25. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F8
F926 Registered fishing boats and foreign fishing boats within British waters to have official papers.
(1)
The master of every sea-fishing boat which is registered under Part II of the Merchant Shipping Act 1988 shall (whether his boat is within British waters or not) have on board the certificate of registration issued in pursuance of that Part of that Act.
(2)
The master of every foreign sea-fishing boat within British waters shall have on board official papers evidencing its nationality.
(3)
If any person, without reasonable excuse (the proof of which lies on him), contravenes subsection (1) or (2) of this section, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding the second level on the standard scale; and where a fine is imposed under this subsection on the master of a foreign sea-fishing boat the court may order the boat to be detained for a period not exceeding three months from the date of the conviction or until the fine is paid (whichever period is the shorter).
(4)
Section 8(4) of the Sea Fisheries Act M11968 (power of British sea-fishery officer to take fishing boat to nearest port and detain it there) shall apply in relation to a contravention of subsection (1) or (2) of this section as it applies in relation to such a contravention as is mentioned in that provision.
(5)
In this section—
“British waters” means waters within the seaward limits of the territorial sea adjacent to the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man;
“foreign sea-fishing boat” means a sea-fishing boat which—
(a)
is not registered in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, and
(b)
is not excluded from registration by regulations under section 13 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1988, and
(c)
is not wholly owned by persons qualified to be owners of British ships for the purposes of Part I of the Merchant Shipping Act M21894;
“master” includes, in relation to any sea-fishing boat, a person for the time being in command or charge of the boat.
Part III
27—56.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F10
Part IV Legal Proceedings
57 Mode of recovering penalties.
All penalties, offences, and proceedings under this Act . . . F11, may be recovered, prosecuted, and taken in a summary manner, and—
In England, before any justice, and
In Scotland, before any court or judge acting under the F12M3Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975, and any Act amending the same, in manner directed by those Acts, and
In the Isle of Man, and the islands of Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, and Sark respectively, before any court, governor, deputy governor, deemster, jurat, or other magistrate, in the manner in which the like penalties, offences, and proceedings are by law recovered, prosecuted, and taken, or as near thereto as circumstances admit.
58 Appeal.
If any person feels aggrieved by any conviction under this Act, or by any determination or adjudication of the court with respect to any compensation under this Act, where the sum adjudged to be paid exceeds five pounds, or the period of imprisonment adjudged exceeds one month, he may appeal therefrom in manner following; (that is to say,)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F13
In Ireland, in manner directed by the M4Petty Sessions, Ireland Act 1851, and any Act amending the same:
In . . . F13, the Isle of Man, and the Islands of Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, and Sark, in manner in which appeals from the like convictions and determinations and adjudications are made.
59. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F14
60 Jurisdiction of courts.
For the purpose of giving jurisdiction to courts under this Act, the following provisions shall have effect:
(1)
A sea-fishing boat shall be deemed to be a ship within the meaning of any Act relating to offences committed on board a ship:
(2)
The same court shall have power to exercise the jurisdiction conferred by this Act with respect to an offence committed by a foreign subject as would have jurisdiction to try such offence if it had been committed by a British subject:
61. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F15
62 Service to be good if made personally or on board ship.
Service of any summons or other matter in any legal proceeding under this Act shall be good service if made personally on the person to be served, or at his last place of abode, or if made by leaving such summons for him on board any sea-fishing boat to which he may belong, with the person being or appearing to be in command or charge of such boat.
63. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F16
64 Application of penalties.
The court imposing any penalty or enforcing any forfeiture under this Act may, if it think fit, direct the whole or any part thereof to be applied in or towards payment of the expenses of the proceedings; and, subject to such direction, and to any direction given under any express provision in this Act, all penalties and forfeitures recovered under this Act shall be paid into the receipt of Her Majesty’s Exchequer in such manner as the Treasury may direct, and shall be carried to the Consolidated Fund.
F1765. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Part V Miscellaneous
66, 67.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F18
68. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F19
69. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F20
70 Application of Act.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F21 this Act shall apply to. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F21 the British Islands as defined by this Act. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F21; and the Royal Courts of Guernsey and Jersey shall register this Act in their respective Courts.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F22