Mauritius Agricultural Marketing (Controlled Products) Regulations, Government Notice no. 63 of 2025

Mauritius Agricultural Marketing (Controlled Products) Regulations 2025. GN No. 63 of 2025 Government Gazette of Mauritius No. 65 of 9 August 2025 THE MAURITIUS AGRICULTURAL MARKETING ACT Regulations made by the Minister, on the advice of the Agricultural Marketing Board, under sections 13, 14 and 27 of the Mauritius Agricultural Marketing Act 1. These regulations may be cited as the Mauritius Agricultural Marketing (Controlled Products) Regulations 2025. 2. In these regulations – "by-catch fish" - (a) means fish species caught by - (i) a foreign tuna longline fishing vessel that holds a valid and applicable fishing licence issued under section 108 of the Fisheries Act 2023; or (ii) a foreign tuna longline fishing vessel, other than a foreign tuna longline fishing vessel that holds a valid and applicable fishing licence issued under section 108 of the Fisheries Act 2023; and includes - (i) fish species specified in Part I of the First Schedule; and (ii) downgraded fish specified in Part I of the Second Schedule. "downgraded fish" means fish damaged through fishing or handling operations; "operator", in relation to a fishing vessel - (a) means any person who - (i) is in charge of the fishing vessel; (ii) is responsible for the operations of the fishing vessel; or (iii) directs or controls the vessel; and (b) includes the owner, agent, charterer or master of the fishing vessel, or the beneficiary of the economic or financial benefit of the operations of the fishing vessel; "Standard Operations Procedures" means the Standard Operations Procedures referred to in regulation 6. 3. For the purpose of section 13 of the Act, by-catch fish and the products specified in the Third and Fourth Schedules are declared to be controlled products in Mauritius and Rodrigues. 4. (1) No person shall remove or purchase by-catch fish originating from foreign tuna longline fishing vessels calling at the port in Mauritius and Rodrigues unless he is appointed as a buying agent by the Board. (2) No person shall be appointed as a buying agent unless he - (a) has the proven financial capacity to purchase by-catch fish from foreign fishing Vessels; and -. (b) has suitable cold storage facilities, whether being the owner of the cold storage facilities or not, and Appropriate logistics for the, removal of by-catch fish from foreign fishing vessels. (3) The Board or its buying agent shall buy by-catch fish at the price specified in Part II of the First and Second Schedules, respectively. (4) A buying agent that fails to comply with paragraph (3) shall commit an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding 1,000 rupees and to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months. 5. (1) The operator of a foreign tuna longline fishing vessel shall ensure that no by-catch fish is removed from such vessel during a call at the port of Mauritius unless it is effected by the Board or its designated buying agent in accordance with regulation 4. (2) The buying agent shall cause the by-catch fish to be weighed at the Trou Fanfaron Fish Cold Store or at an approved establishment under the supervision of a Fisheries Control Officer and such other person as the Board may authorise. (3) The operator of a foreign tuna longline fishing vessel that fails to comply with paragraph (1) shall commit an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding 1,000 rupees and to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months. (4) Any buying agent that fails to comply with paragraph (2) or does not exercise responsibility as directed by an operator under regulation 5(1) shall commit an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding 1,000 rupees and to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months. 6. There shall be, for the purpose of the receipt, delivery, purchase, handling, transportation, processing, storage and sale of by-catch fish, a manual to be known as the Standard Operations Procedures, which shall be approved by the Board. 7. (1) A Price Committee shall be set up in accordance with section 7 of the Act to make recommendations on the purchase prices of by-catch fish. (2) The Committee shall meet at least once every year. 8. Any person who otherwise contravenes these regulations shall commit an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding 1,000 rupees and to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months. 9. The Mauritius Agricultural Marketing (Price of Controlled Products) (By-catch Fish) (Amendment) Regulations 2004 and the Mauritius Agricultural Marketing (Controlled Products) Regulations 2013 are revoked. 10. These regulations shall come into operation on 8 August 2025. Made by the Minister, on the advice of the Agricultural Marketing Board, on.8 August 2025. FIRST SCHEDULE [Regulation 2] PART I - BY-CATCH SPECIES Becune (Acanthocybium solandri) Dorade (Coryphaena hippurus) Gastero (Gasterochisma melampus) Moon fish (Lampris guttatus) Oil fish (Ruvettus sp) Tétsubin (Lepidotus brama) Sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) PART II — PURCHASE PRICE OF BY-CATCH SPECIES Controlled Products Price per kg Category A (Rs) Becune 110 Dorade 110 Gastero 50 Oil Fish 40 Sailfish 80 MoonfIsh 75 Tetsubin 30 SECOND SCHEDULE [Regulation 2] PART I - DOWNGRADED FISH SPECIES Becune (Acanthocybium solandri) Dorade (Coryphaena hippurus) Gastero (Gasterochisma melampus) Moon fish (Lamprisguttatus) Oil fish (Ruvettus sp) Tetsubin (Lepidotus brama) Sailfish (Istiophorus plalypterus) PART II - PURCHASE PRICE OF DOWNGRADED FISH SPECIES Controlled Products Category B - Downgraded Fish Price per kg (Rs) Becime 95 Dorade 95 Gastero 40 Oil Fish 30 Sailfish 70 MoonfIsh 65 Tetsubin 20 THIRD SCHEDULE [Regulation 3] PRODUCTS OF THE ISLAND OF MAURITIUS AND RODRIGUES 1. Dry whole onions 2. Fresh whole garlic 3. Fresh whole potatoes 4. Garlic seeds 5. Onion seeds 6. Potato seeds FOURTH SCHEDULE [Regulation 3] IMPORTED PRODUCTS 1. Dry whole onions 2. Fresh whole garlic 3. Fresh whole potatoes 4. Garlic seeds 5. Onion seeds 6. Potato seeds