Sikkim Fisheries Act, 1980 (No. 3 of 1980)

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PRS or any persons connected with it shall not be in any way responsible for any loss, damage, or distress to any person on account of any action taken or not taken on the basis of this document. The Sikkim Fisheries Act, 1980 Act 3 of 1980 Keyword(s): Fish, Fishing, Fishing Craft, Fishing Offence, Fishery Officer, Fixed Engine, Private Waters, Religious, Religious Body, Religious Institution 300 THE SIKKIM FISHERIES ACT, 1980. ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. Short title, extent and commencement. Definitions. Power to make rules. . Powers to prohibit sale of fish. 13. Penalties. Destruction of fish by explosive and punishment therefor. , Destruction of fish by poisoning and punishment therefor. Offence cognizable. Power to arrest without warrant and investigation of offences under this Act . Power of search and investigation. Power to compound certain offences and charge compensation. Persons performing duties under this Act and protection of action taken on good faith. Repeal and Savings. 301 THE SIKKIM. FISHERIES ACT, 1980 ACT' NO.3 OF. 1980 AN ACT . to provide for conservation, propagation, development and the modes of disposal. of fisheries. in Sikkim. [5th April, 1980 j Be it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of Sikkim in the Thirty-first Year of the Republic of India as follows: 1. ( 1) This Act may be cal1ed the Sikkim Fisheries Act, 1980. Short title; extent and commencement (2) (3) It shall extend to the whole of Sikkim. It shall come into, force on ,such date as the State Government may, by notification. in the Official' Gazette; appoint. 2. In this Act and the rules made there under unless. there is anything repugnant in the subject or context Definition. (i) 'fish' includes shell-fish in all stages of its life including aquatic plants and animals of' fisheries value; (ii) 'fishing; gear means.. any net, line. rod and line, fishing tackle or other appliances used for the purpose of, catching fish; (Hi) 'fishing craft' means any boat manually operated or operated by power used for the. purpose of fishing or the transport of fish; (iv) 'fishing offence' means any offence punishable under this Act or any rule made there under; (v) 'fishery officer' means any person whom the State Government. may, from time to time, appoint by name or as holding, an office. to carry out all or 302 any of the purposes of-this Act or to do anything - required by, this Act or any rule made there under: , Provided that - no police officer below the rank of Sub-Inspector shall be so empowered; (vi)' 'fixed engine' means -any net, cage, trap or other contrivance for taking fish -fixed in the soil or made stationary in the other way; (viii) (vii) .'Notification' means a notification published in the Official Gazette; 'private waters' means water which are the exclusive properly of any person, or in which any person has for the time being an exclusive right of fishery 'whether as owner, lessee or in any other capacity and includes tanks, ponds, artificial lake etc; excavated' at expenses of the owner which have’ no communication at any season with the natural waters of any river, streams, or canals; Explanation.- Water shall not cease to be private water within the meaning of this definition by reason only that other persons may have by custom a right of fishery therein; (ix) 'State Government' means the Government of the State of Sikkim; (x) 'Religious" water' means water belonging to a religious 'body or institution and’ which has by reason thereof and on religious grounds never been fished before; , J Explanation.-The provisions of this definition shall not however, debar the State Government to develop such water with fisheries which. however, will not be subjected to commercial use without the consent of the religious body or institution or the persons who may have customs attached to such water; (xi) ‘religious, body' means the trustees" or any other person who are in charge of a ‘religious institu tion or in whom the ownership of the religious institution vests for the time being; (xii) "'religious institution' means a temple, a mosque, a church, a monastery or any other shrine dedicated to any God or Goddess and such other institutions as the State Government may, by notification, declare in this behalf; (xiii) 'section or 'sub-section' means a section or subsection of this Act unless referred to any other Act. 3. (1) The State Government may make rules for the purposes mentioned hereinafter in this section and shall under such rules declare the waters, not being private waters, to which all or any of them shall apply. (2) The State Government may by notification apply such rules or any of them to any private water with the consent in writing of the owner thereof and of all persons having for the time being any exclusive right of fishery therein. (3) The State Government may make rules for the propagation and development of fisheries in private waters which may include grant of financial help therefor. Explanation. Financial help shall include loans, subsidy or grants in-aid. (4) Such rules may, (a) prohibit or regulate all or any of the following matters (i) (ii) the erection and use of fixed engines; the construction of weirs, bunds and diversion of natural waters for killing fish; and (iii) the dimension and. kinds of fishing gears and. modes of their use. (b) prohibit fishing except under a license and regulate the granting of such licenses, .the fees payable therefor and the conditions to be inserted therein; 303 Powers to make rules. 304 .' (e) prohibit destruction or attempt to. destroy fish by. any gear .which the. State Government may consider harmful or destructive; (d) prescribe seasons in which the killing or catching or, sale of any fish of any prescribed species shall 'be prohibited; (e) prescribe a minimum size or weight below which no. fish of any prescribed species shall be taught, killed or sold; (0 prohibit fishing in any specified water far a specified period; (g) prescribe modes, means, agency and procedures of business of fisheries within and out side the State; (h) regulate export of fish or specified species of fish outside any area or areas and also. prescribe the.. rate. for sale of fish in any market of the State; (i) regulate and prescribe lease Of. mortgage of tank, pond or land for construction of pond intended for stocking in such tank or pond with fish of any class; (j) regulate the possession of fishing craft and '. . gear within any specified limits as may appear to. be necessary (k) such rules may, among other matters, also. provide for the examination. of fish" in transit within. specified limits. (5) In making any rules under this section the State Government may provide for (a) seizure, removal and forfeiture of any apparatus erected or used for .fishing in contravention of the rules; (b) forfeiture of any fish taken by means of any such apparatus; confiscation of any consignment of fish held or transported in contravention of the rules. (c) 4. The State Government may by notification prohibit in any specified areas the offering or exposing for sale or barter of any fish killed or caught in contravention of any rules made under sub-section (4) of section 3 of this Act. 5. (1) The breach of any rule made under section 3 or of any prohibition notified under section 4 shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to three months or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees or with both, and when the breach is a continuing one, with a further fine which may extend to ten rupees for each day during which the breach is continued after the first day. . (2) If any person convicted of an offence under this Act, commits a like. offence afterwards then, he shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to one thousand. rupees or with both for each subsequent offence. 6. If any person uses any dynamite or other explosive substances in any water with intent thereby to catch or destroy fish that may be therein, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to one thousand' rupees or with both. 7. If any person puts any poison, lime or noxious material into any water with intent thereby to catch or destroy any fish which may be therein, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees or with both. 8. Notwithstanding anything contained .in the Law relating to Criminal Procedure in force in Sikkim, the offences under this Act shall be cognizable and any property used for committing fishing offence may be forfeited to the State. 305 Powers to prohibit sale of fish. Penalties. Destruction of fish by explosives and punishment therefore. Destruction of fish by poisoning and punishment there for. Offence cognizable. 306 Power to arrest without warrant and investigation of offences under this Act. , ,. Power of search and investigation. ', Power to compound certain offences and charge compensa' tion. .., 9.(1) Any Fishery 'Officer, Police Officer or any other person specially empowered by the State Government in this behalf, may, without warrant, arrest .any person committing or attempting to commit in his view" any offence punishable under this Act and may detain him for investigation including ascertainment of name and residence. " (2) When the investigation is completed or the true name and residence of such person have been ascertained, he shall be released on his executing a bond; with or without sureties, to appear before a Magistrate, if so required. (3) Should the investigation not be concluded or the name 'and residence of such person not. be, ascertained within twenty four hours from the time of arrest, or should he fail to execute the bond, or, if so required, to furnish sufficient sureties, he shall forthwith be .forwarded to the nearest Magistrate 'along with copies of connected papers. . '" (4)The, Magistrate, to whom an accused .person is forwarded under this section, shall ,.follow the procedure relating .to .remand as laid down in the Code' of Criminal Procedure for the time ,being. in force' 10. Every Fishery Officer shall, have the same power of search. and investigation in respect. of offences under this Act as that of a Police Officer under, the provisions of the law relating to Criminal Procedure for the time being in force in Sikkim 11. (1) The State Government may, by notification, empower a Fishery Officer by name or as. holding an office (a) to accept from person concerning whom evidence exists which if unrebutted would prove that he '. has committed any fishing offence as described in' the first column of the Schedule, a sum of money by way of compensation for the offence with regard to which such evidence exists and on payment of such sum to such officer such person" if in custody, shall be discharged and no further proceedings shall be instituted against him; '(b) to 'accept compensation as damages for the loss caused to fish life as may be assessed by such officer at the prevalent market rate' which shall be in addition to the compensation specified in the Schedule; (c) , to release any property that has been seized as liable .to confiscation on payment of the value of such property as estimated by such officer and on payment of such value such property shall be released and no further proceedings shall be taken in respect thereof. (2) The sum of money accepted as compensation under sub clause (a) of sub-section (1) shall be in no case exceeds the amount mentioned in the second column of the Schedule for the particular offence detailed in the first column thereof: Provided that provision of sub-section (2) shall not limit the act of an officer to charge compensation for different offences collectively if such offences are committed at the same time by a person. 12. Person empowered to exercise and execute duties under this Act or rules made there under shall be deemed to be public servant within the meaning of section 21 of the Indian Penal Code, and no suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings shall lie against any person for anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done under this Act. 13. All Acts, Rules, Notifications, Regulations or Orders in force, permanently or temporarily, in Sikkim for the protection, conservation and development of fisheries immediately before the enforcement and commencement of this Act are hereby repealed provided that, (a) anything done or action taken or proceedings commenced or continued under the repealed Rules, Notifications, Orders, Regulations or Acts, promulgated, made or issued by the com 307 Persons perform ing duties under this Act and pro tection of action taken on good faith. Repeal and Savings. 308 petent authority of the time shall be deemed to have been done. taken and commenced or continued under the corresponding provisions of this Act; (b) any appointment, order. regulation or notification made or issued under the provisions of the repealed Rules. Orders, Regulations or Notifications shall in so far as it is not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act. be deemed to have been done or made and issued under the provisions of this Act unless and until superseded by any appointment. order, regulation or notification made or issued under this Act. 11 Selling or attempting to sell fish for a price above the prescribed market value Rs Fifty 12 Possessing tackle or gear unauthorizedly Rs One hundred 309 SCHEDULE OF COMPENSATION (As provided under section 11 of the Sikkim Fisheries Act, 1980.) Limits of amounts acceptable; as, compensation for certain matters of Fishing offences detailed under section 11 of the Act. Description of offences Maximum amount acceptable as compensation. 1. Fishing with a net having smaller mesh than that prescribed under the rule. 2. Fishing without a license. 3. Killing, catching or selling or attempting to kill, catch or sell any fish of a size and weight less than the standard prescribed under this Act. Rs. One hundred . Rs. One hundred. Rs. Twenty-five. 4. Killing, catching or selling or attempting to do so, any fish of a prohibited species during a close season. 5. Fishing with any gear or method other than that per mitted under the Rule. Rs. Fifty. Rs. Fifty. 6. Using at anyone time more than the number of gears permitted under the rules. Rs. Fifty. 7 Fishing or attempting to fish in any of the prohibited waters. Rs. One hundred. Rs. Fifty. 10. Exporting or attempting to export fishes or fish of any specified species in contravention of the provision of rules. Rs. One -hundred.. 8. License holder employing or engaging non-licensees to help with their gear while fishing. 'Rs. Fifty. 9. Offering or exposing for sale Or barter of any fish, the sale of which is prohibited in any specified area which may be notified under section 4 of this Act.