Fisheries Ordinance 1979

No, 18 of 1979 Fisheries Ordin,1nce. 1979 Virgin Islands No.12 of 1980 Fisheries (itJnendmont} Orcii ncmco 1qao VIllGlN ISL.~NDS No. 18 of 1979 No. 12 of 1980 ;,.n ur<:llna.ncG: tc:; providu for the prot~cticm, regul;:ition nnd control of ;1.rc.,(':ucts of the sea in tho waters J .l't... Davidson Governor of, u.nd adj acont to, th0 Virgin Islands, und fc.,i:- m!".ttors c:onnect-.::d tl10ruwi th ur; incid<..·lit;:l thcrotr . .,. t, - G.:'•Zcd;toG 1 N,.,,vemb8r 1979 7 ,.,lll) 301,l, cctvb'~-'r, 1980 EN.:~C'l'B!J by the Lagisl:::ituro of the Virgin Islands. ,-:hort titl.;.., l. This Ordincmco mny i>O cite,::J as the l''isherJ.es Ordin;s nco, 19 79, and nmcnded 1980. ~.nt~.:rpreto.tion. 2.. In this Or<linanco, unloss the context otherwise rc:quir· s : s,n. & o. No. 4 of 1977. "b1,:;longcr" has the mE;ilning ascribed tharctc by the Virgin Isl~nU.s (constitution) Ordvr, 197&: "court" moans Nagistrate 1 s court: "export" inclucto.s pl~c1ng in :my ship, bont or vessel or ai:.·cr'lft for conveyt"nc(, eu.tside th0 ·rm.-:ti tory; "cxclusiv:: tishing Zl:nc" monns tne torri.t::riul '17:'\t.:Jrs of th«) Vi.rqin Islrrnds togcth0r with tho Z.')rtQ contiguous to the said t-iaters which Vtl8 proclrimed as a fisheries zono for the Virgin Islands by procl~mation ma.do by tho Governor r..m tho 9lll ctay liarch, 19 77; "fish" hoO•c.. ns fit:h of nny ltinci found in the soa and includes lobstwrs, crnwfish, crabs, shrimps, pr::,.wns, oysters, r,1ussuls, cockles and any other kind of shell fish; "fishing bout" includes rmy vs;;ssol of whnt evor sizz usGd by any person in fishing~ 11 foroign fishing boat'' means a fishing bout owned and operated by c p~rson not doomed to be ?. b0l,Jnger or a fishing boat owned and apornted by n pors n not resident in tha Territory, and includos any fishing boat Power to declare protectedprotected areas. · is/"Jeri0s j,;1..s,)ectors 2 re,;ist:cc1r, :;d nr 1 ircm.c:od lr. .., rr11:nrry nt:>e:-· t~2.n tho ·rc-:o::ritcry; "functions" incJ.u,.:lcs pow0rs ,1nd duti0s; 11 licence II m:...ttnrJ :tt licunc,..; issuud by tho .Hinistor: "rnarino product" me.:i.ns fish, turtlu, spcm90, ccrt'.lc. unJ. any othor n<.'.tur-'.:ll r,rotluct of tha <J.SJZ!; "hinist.,:J.'."" m>J;ms the Minister of the Government i..n ch"1rgo r,f ur. to \1h,,m the subject mattur ... -:,f -~hi:::: Orc~in.:;;.nco h.Js b.:-ic-n as.c;5.gncd;" "prc·b.!Ctt":d. Grc;::i." ~c::ns 2.n ;,,re2. dccl:-,.red by th0 l•.ini.st;,r -tn brc :, p.rotcct.e~l ·irva 1.1ndo.r ::iecticm 4; 11 t::1<inq" i;.,Jt}i r.. ·f ·.-rcn::u t1v"I t: mc:irinc prc>duct incllv.:lc~:. capturing, killing t1nd dc.st:roying; "1.1<:.'.':! 1;,-l" .\.ncludc:s ,7.ny 21hip or boat or <'-hY othGr r,ks,:;1~ipti,.. 0[ vi..:., .·:,.;,il used in nc1vi,;<1tion t':."'"' -1-ny (~-'\:.;c:t·ipt.itir. cd'. t:1ircr::ft. 3.. (1) ;·,:cry ,~.ffic·.:,.t of thv· rcvemw, ev0ry J; ),::ace of fie, .. ·, .,:;;vc~;y of"fic,-'!' •if +;h~, 0. ::.:,cn:tment o~:: ;·~griculture ~nd Pi .<1hc,r-i , "' '! 1 ny c ·-,ol"' of'fi r'.nr, :-,ppni nt.rn-:1 f:r-r ~ho purpose t,y th2 Eit1i.<1t.or '.·,y :Ln,'3trul'.'.':.· .. mt in w,r.j tin(• shnll be i1 fisher'i.-.:s i. 'poet -::r L?r the nur )nses of thi.s • )rdinanco and r.hall b.:wc: r:1 ,:: tr.,1y exercise 't:h1J ~ functions .1,ssigncd to ct (i "h,::,ri :·,s i nt:j 1, :r.tY·r h~/ c-r und1:r t.hi s (} p]i n;.1.nCl!. ·. 2) ".l.'hv .lHnic;-tor m:\y c:i.:)point thCa: Chief hqr.-icultural OfEicer o;: z . .suni(·r vffico:r of thc.t Dopw.rt::1,.mt t 0> bsJ tha Chi. YF f,'j .c.:h.-,r-i.J-"-~ T1 .. so:p,>rt-or. 4., ( 1) ·.,:he: Einist..:Jr J'l\Cl.Y by or".1-:.;r -:L, 1..:L~rc .::i.ny arc:\ 0£ tho ,., 1 t~.,r.B •Ii thln th0 "",xclu.s.i vo f i.s;hing zon<-' i...-l"H;;thcr :?..lone nt- +,.-rJPth,.r t )t-h ;"lr,y P'lr~ .,,.., of' l,Ttvl 1.1p t1., h:i(Jh t1r1i·t.,r m;)rk 21.d.jaco1 ·c. to such w.:1tC;rs to be a protcct. .1 <J.ren fur· the purpcs-..,s G:f this ·tinanci~ Prnvir~ ,d thc;t :,rhori i:hP Ni rd .,:;t.~r propo~e-,!'1. to 1.Yl.",kt-" :my r,·kr u:1der this section he sh-·.11 ""!uDlish net.ice , .f hi.s int.ontions in tho Officittl n:1.zetto .:m · in "" ne;,sp:J.:r,ur pub li.Jhod ,1i thiu tho ~i.'0:rri tory ']ivi·--tJ intc1rc,st .. ·,.d pc-rson:. t-.h(: <1p ~·111rb.1ni l-y nf .<:::11h mi ttin0 obj-c.cticns in wri·ting within twc,nty-·,;nc; c::1.ys of tne dctte of such publiC.'.ltion c1nd i:;h··ll not pr-·,c,·;ed to m:•.ku any such ord,.:r unt:il ull .such ,.,bJ ,,:,tior~s, i:f ~1riy, h~v,.,, bi:.,,:'-n rluJ y :•on.erirl,~::.rn,:'I. ( 2 I hny ordc,r rnac~o unc:lor this section m.:i.y prohibit the tµk.ing "'i thin th0 prot,.;ct~d arcc: of m~rino products,. o:r ,:-:,f ::tny m"1.rinc ;,rodu<".'ts Sl"'.'Oc:i·Ei0d in th,:- ,..:,rdor, by any person oth;:~:--v.rise thu.n und,2r thi.; <1u thori ty of ~nd in .. ::.~:-\,: 1 .. :-: :.·:h "t-1' iurms and C:)nditions of n licence in ..:1,a,; l\ J •. .-:,.J..t: ,:,·r?Lntod to that pcrsc•n for tho purpose. ( 3) Jmy person who tal.-os any rnarino product in o. protected :--.r0a in contraventi[m of the provis.ic•ns of any ordor rnn-:lo u·ad.0r this suction in r0spect of such i"rea or o-£ any ,;,· er~ ,x: condition att::1.chod t,:., ~ lic,.:.,1.1;;:.~ .. gr'',..d:.sr .. '\ £or t:te ptit· oso shall bG guilty r,·f an offGnco and liable upon summnry conviction to .a fine not axceoding G"'2lvon hundred and fifty (1oll:::i.rs or ta imprisonm\.:ant for .::,,, tDrm not Q!-tcooding c,nQ yo!.'.)k" or t-::- both su~h .fine., .ond imp.ri9onm,mt and 31;1y vessel u.3od for the cor,Mi::;sion of the offenco ,3h,;.ll b0 liabl;..; to fu1:f.:dturc. Tddng, A.nc1 c,: fftn:i n mc;,thods of t:ildng, m3.rine: prr,r111 r. l-.t. may bu proldbi ter.J ' 1f' G-gistr."'\tion r-i. Kl lic'-'nsing of fishing b~>ats .. .. s;strictitn on export .. 3 (4) ·,ihe;rc nny pc:rsun is found ,.:ith:i.n '.) protected urea in pos.s0ssio~J of ,my marin0 product the tl!king of which within thnt arc;,. is prohibited by 1.n orQ.c.r mado und.::r this soction he shall bo d\1cmod, until the cvntrury is ;)rova.--1, to hav0 tnk~n that marine.. product within that c"Jr(;u.., 5. (1) 'l'hG t.linistor may by order prohi:Oit th2 to.king: ( n) of .·,ny spccio.s or kind of murtnn product s:::,ucified in tho ordur (whothor by rofcronce t8 size or ...might or othQrwiso) absclutoly or durlnq such puriod or periods ,JS muy be so specifiod.; (b) of nny mnrina product b~/ UO)' m..?thod specified 'In +he, ,,r<J,,r~ ' fl. ( c) of cmy ranrin0 product by the use of :my engine, c:r:cdg0, tr-'lp or :.':0vicc, 1.nyw:1:0:rc uithin tLs1 exc.:ltrnivc fishing zone ,n,., whother wi t1•in n i)rotoct-..~'.2 .:.run or otherwise. ( 7) l,-:--y r,.-,r.c:.nn whn T,"'1.la·· ··ny m:,ri nc, [JT"OrJUC".t f n contr2.vc~nti0n ,-,f the~ provisions of ·1.n orC~e;r m-7.~~:.J under this s;:,;ctivn, :n:·1• the Hnst:,-:r o.c othe:r pvrson in ch(\rgo of any vcssol ·,,rho suff(.;rs or porrnits thG v0ss0l or ,J.ny person hcilonginq -t.u tho v,.-.As"l to be.~ (H!'lployod in so t,~1ting or to so t~k.-:: ::-ny marine product, sho.11 c2ch be guilty of an offcno2 -:i.nd lic1blo U:i ...,on summary convicticm ..;o il fine not e:cccoding fiva hundred doll3r::; or to imprisonment for a berm nnt 01trr:-.ti/li nq nnP yc:ic1r ~ or to bot.h such fin3 :ind irnpris(mmcnt, und th·~ marine product so taken and :..1ny vessel used in such t~king shall be li~blc to forfeiture; * Cap .. 188 (<1.} uso a fishing boat; or (b} being the ouner, parmit a fishing boat to bo used, to take any marine product in the exclusive :fis.hincJ :-:one unless there is a lic~nc,:: issi:tod in respect vf the fishing bo.1.t and the fishing bo.:1.t is rcgistcn~d <1.s pr~scribccl under this Or-3.in~n,:,,~ w { c) Nvtwi thst,:mding subsectit~n ( 1) , any fishing boat liccnsnU und~r the G8nGral RGvonuo Ordin~nco is ck,,:c ,r,i.=,,,i t-n h~ registered under this Or::Hnance, anfl any licence issued undGr the General Revenue Ordinance in respect thereof is deemed to bo issu0d undc.-r this :,:•A'.'.'1-i,·,n <1nd i. $1 valid until the date of its expiry." 6. (l) No person shall export nny marin~ product from the TQrritory cthorwise thcin under the authority of, and in ~ccord~nce with the terms and conditions of u licenco in th,~t behnlf gr;>;ntctl to that per.son for the purpose. (2) hny person who exports any marinQ product in contravention of the provisions of this section or of any term er Condition attached to n liccmce grnntcd thG.roundor s:h;:i.ll be guilty of ~n 0££-:.incg a.nd liablo upon summary conviction to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars or to imprisom.1~nt for t'l. term not exceeding one year or both such fine and impri ~:onmi.:nt. Fishing boats. Powers of seizure arrest, etc. Parsons in ®Stody to be brought boforc a magistrute•s cuurt u.t· released. 4 7. ( 1) Where any person on board a forej,gn fishing boat takes any marine product within the exclusive fishing zone then that person ;md also the ~aster or othqr pe~son in charge of the boat shall euch be guilty of offence and liable, upon summary conviction to a fine not exceeding tan thousand dollars or to improsonment for a term not exceeding one year or to both such fine and imprisonmen~ and the marine product so taken and the boat used in su<:I\ taking shall be liabl~ to forfeiture. ( 2) Whore any mnrine product i·s found on board any foreign fishing boat within the exclusive fishing zone or where any marine product is landed, or placed in any crawl from any fishing boat at any creek, island or cay within the Territory, such marine product shall be deemed, until the contrary be proved, to have been taken within the exclusive fishing zone by a person on board such fishing boat. (3) Notwithstanding anything to the c0ntrary, a taking by n person on board~ foreign fishing boat shall be doemed not to be in contravention of subsection (1) of this section if such taking w::is made: for scientific rascarch purposes undor the authority, of, nn~ in accordanca with the terms and conditions of a licence in that behalf granted to the person operating the boat. a. (1) A fisheries inspector may at nny time stop, go on board and search any fishing boat within the exclusive fishing zone, and if he has reason to suspect that any person on board such boat has contravened ~ny of the provisions of this Ordinnnce, may without summons, wurrant or Other process seize the bo,,.t and detain it .1nd any person found on board. ( 2) l, fisheries inspector may at any time without a)).1w1ttons, wurrant or ot.het: process seize unU -:-"et.oin any vess,e-1 or thing which is liable to forfeiture under this Ordinance or which ne has reasonable grounds to be11ev~ 1s so 11ub1e. ( 3) l-\.ny fisherio:;s inspector and any person whom he may call to hia assistance may arrest and detain without warrant any person wno such inspector nas reason to suspect has committed or permitted the commission of ""Y offence against this Orc:tin-::mce. (4) .A.ny person wno res1s1:s or obstructs any:, :t1sbei:'1~1:i inspector in the ex0rcise of ~ny of his powers conferred by this section sh~ll be guilty of an offence and liable upon summary conviction to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, and such person may ba detained by th~ fi~h~ri~s inspector,. (5) Where any vessel or thing is seized or detained or any person is det~1ne~ under this ~uctlon by a Lisheriea inspector, the inspector shall take such vessel. thing or person as soon as may ba to the noarest or most convenient place in the Territory and there deliver it or him into the custotly or the moat 5enior police officer. 9. Where on delivering any person into the custody of a police officer in accordance with the provisions of section 8: (a) the fisheries inspecto~ makes a complaint to such o££icer th~t auch pe~aon baa committed an o££ence against this Ordinance, the police officer shall as soon as may bo cause such person to be brought before a magistrate's court Detention of vessels, etc• 5 to be dealt with according to law: or (b) the fishe:riGS inspoetor does not m:>1ke any such complaint, the polico officer shall forthwith release such parson. 10. (1) :!here any vessel or thing is deliver0d into tho custody of ,1. police officer nt any placo by a fisheries inspecto~ in accordance with the provisions of .3ection 8, auch ve,:,3el or thing :,ha.1.1 be dcts\inc<l in tho custcxly C.)f the Chief of Police at that place or at such other :Jl:1ce c1s the Chief of Folicc:i may direct until thG same~sholl b0 forfoited or released in nccol.-dr.nce with the provioiono 0£ thic ooc;:tiut"h ( 2) 2~y vessel or thing ·-Jatoinod under the provisi ~:ns (•f subsection ( l) of this section .shall be rolcc-1;:;ed upOh demand to the owner or hi.a duly accreLlitsU ~gent: (~) within th0 period of soven d~ys next .[oll.;,wing t.he •"i<'.'.to 0£ dclive:i;-y 0£ the vessel or thing to the polico officer, if no proceedings are instituted within this p(:rio::.1 c!gi;J.inst the owner or thG N,-,..i0Le1· ox Dth.:.r f)c,.r.:son in che.irge 0£ the veso, .. l er thing in r(.Jspoct of ,:.n offence again.Jt this or,J.inunce; or lb) in "'.lny ea.so wh,;,.:rc such proceedings ;:i.re instituted ~s nforesaid upon the final determin2>.tion of such ::,r(,cccdings, wher0 the vessel or thing is not linble or orC..;:red to be forfeited under the provisions of this Ordinance, or where a fine has beon imposed by the Co·urt in such proceedings upon the p~yment or .:.,uch £in~ with..i..11 t.he "Lime pre.scribed by the Court for such payment, ( 3) l~ny v~ssel or thing detc1i110d undor the prvv~sivn~ vf ~u~~~~tion (l) of th1a sac~ion Sh~ll be subject to a lien in favuur of the Crown for the amount of -:my fine imposed by the Court upon the owner o.- the Master or other pors0n in charge thereof in any procoeclings in r1:::sp~ct of an offence against this Ordinance, and if such fine shall not h2.ve been paid by the due J.at1:.: for payment thereof the Registrar muy, subject as in this subsection provided, a·"ter first .s1::1rving upon th~ owner or the I~aster or ocher person in charge Qf the ves -~el or thing, u notice in writing of his ~ntcntion so to do, sell the vessel or thing by public ,J.uction after the 13.pse of fourte.en dnys of the s~rvic~ ur such notice and deduct the a,11ount ot the tine or fines unpnid and the expenses incurred in selling the vessel or thing from the proceeds of th'<:e .,;:\le and pay the b;'.llance to th~ i~ccountant Gonwral to be held by t.ht: .i"-.c;cuuntc:.mt G~n~ra.l uncl paid lJy him to such person as shall satisfy him that hj is entitled thereto: ProvL:ed that if within the pcrioJ. of fourteen days n~xt following the date of service of a li~tice under this subsection upon the owner, Master or other person in charge of u vessel or thing, such owner, Muster or other person pays to the court the amount of any fine or fines unpaid, and p~ys to the Registrar the amount of any expenses incurred by the Rcgistr~r in respect of the proposed s;:ile, the Minister shall not offer such vessel or thing for sale but sh~ll release th1;:.1 V'<:H:>.::1~1 ur thing tv such owner, Master or other person. (4) No action shall lie at the suit of any ·t'rial of (iffGncas. ;:'.;malty for p1;,ssession. Exemptions, " 6 .. persun ag:,,inol. +lie: z~ccount Genur,,:t. :.i .... r("''.,.. -.f.:t of the payri.-:mt by hi0c1 in gc.:c, 1 f01·(.,, Q•F .ny monoy::., unJ.i;.i· subs~ction ( J) Of thih'r ;.ICC:tion tO 01ny pcrs0n J.1,P...,°"l"i ;,<;1 t:c hiE\ to bC entitle:·: t, ; th.::, s:1me,. * { 5) '1h0re 2. vc:-::;;sol is dot -:i.in~a un.Jor subs0ction ( 1) no :1.ction sh.1.ll lie -~igu.inst the Chief of Police or the Crown in r.cspoct of loss or dsm:lge to any perishable marine product. 11. ( 1) '.n10r,1 r:ny offence ag::i.inst nny of tti.c provisions of this Ordin;:,ncc or of ::my rulo mride2: thareundor is co!Tltrli ttod within tb~ c.1,clusivo fishing zono then, of th~ purposes of the juris.::ictic.,n of ,:my court in th0 Tcr'.".."i tory, th.::.t offence sh2ll bo d.:,)::lc1} b., hnvr:: bo,:m cornrn~ tted nt tho plwce in the Terz·itory 1,/h(Jrc th0 off0nd0r is f1 ,unU or tc which hu is first brought ;1ftvr the cornmi:3Si-,m of th~ offcncQ. { 2) Th;,; juristUc tiun unt~or subsectivn ( l) :;f this section .s'r•.-:11 be in :1c:.-:i tion ': . .r.1 ; :J n,;t in :k2r~ig:1tion of c·ny juri.sdicticn 'Jt -~1:,,v.-.:: .. r ,)r n.ny cou:ct under :,ny other enactment. 12. Tho r L1istu::; · '.,FJ.Y 1!1::>.kc rullC:lS f 0Jr tho butter co.rrying cut cf the ;::irovision.s vf f:t1is Ordin<u;.cc ,ind in p:::i.rticuletr, and without pr, ... j U\~icl: tc: the gen0rc1li ty of the foregoing, for c;ll or. nny f t·:·10 following purpm;es: ( u.) provi ·Ung fer the isauu t.if licenc!i..•,q, their terms : n, ~ cc,nti tions; ::mU. for the tr.-msfv::, ·1x,1..:;ndment nn-:. rov•:·c:1tion of licences; (b) prcscri".:iinq tho forms to be u:rn·J for ,,ny of tho purposes ":f thin Ordint'.ncc; ( c) pre.Jcribing the fees to ha Churgel\ in rc·spcct of the issu.) of Llny licence or the tr:'..nsfor ,,r ;:un~n,-:1rncnt of c.ny liconce: (d) pr.,,scribing the: size -:md typ0 \. ,f !'.:!on:Jtructii.::in of nny trilr,, net or seine 21nd prohibitin<;i the use for the purpose of tri.l<:ing emy morina product of ,;:,r:iy tr~;p, nut '-'r saino othar tl'\J.n i:\ tr,,p, not or s ind of the proscribcrJ size of mesh: (e) ro~:ulating the; size, type, quantity, q:uc.lity or spGcies of :my marine product which rn.1.y be in the p . .::i~sc.ss~.on of ::i.ny person; (f) ;-n:,·vi.1ing for th;;, regul-'"\tion of the.:· 1e of any m;:11: Lno pr~;dict to the public nn;:J. fc,r th¾: in,spection, "7r,:L1ing, pDcking and storar:0 vf cmy r.1.21.rine r,ro· luct intc:nd0·.1 fer h·'.1man c:insumption whether w:i. t>i.iJ 0.1- .;;1utside the ; &rri tory: ru,d (g) :)rescribing anything to be prescribed im"1Gr the pt·ov:i.sion., of this Ordinance. 13.. hny person, wheth0r holding a liccmce or not, founU in possession of any article prohibited tc be used, or any marinu prod.uct , 1robibitod to be tak.m under an Ordwr or rule is~ued or made un~er t:~i:s Ordinance and fnilinq to qive n satisfactory oxplan21.tion of such possession shall be guilty of an offonco ,"!nd li,1.bl~ upon summnry conviction to a fine not exce-:..<'.ing eight hundred dollo.rs or to irnpri1:rnnmant for a term not exceeding one year or to both such fine ·nd imprisonment. 14. r.rhe .Miai'Jtcr mi:1-y by Ortlcr published in the Ga:g.ettu exempt nny p,~rson or class of ·::orson from any provision of this orJinance. 7 Pass,:;::'.\ the Legislativo Col.lncil this 16!b d."\y of October, 1980 and amended by thCJ Legiolati vc ,;:,::ouneil 16~ October, 1980. I • .i)awnon Speukor M.G. Borde Clork of tho Lcgislntive Council From the Fishorics l::.rncndment ordinance 1980.