FISHERIES MANAGEMENT ACT 1994 - SECT 156 Annual contribution to cost of administration or research or to other industry costs

FISHERIES MANAGEMENT ACT 1994 - SECT 156

156 Annual contribution to cost of administration or research or to other industry costs

(1) A permit holder must, if the regulations so require, pay to the Minister an annual contribution towards any of the following costs--

(a) the cost of administration of this Part, being a cost that is identified in the regulations as a cost directly attributable to industry,

(b) the cost of monitoring the quality of the environment in which aquaculture is undertaken and of testing the quality of the fish or marine vegetation cultivated or kept,

(c) the cost of carrying out research into aquaculture,

(d) any other costs relating to the aquaculture industry.

(2) The amount of the contribution is to be specified in or determined by the regulations. The regulations may provide for the contribution to be based on the size of the area available for aquaculture or on any other basis and for the payment of the contribution by instalments or otherwise.

(3) The payment required by this section is taken to be a condition of every aquaculture permit.

(4) A contribution payable under this section is in addition to any rental payable by the permit holder for an aquaculture lease.

(5) A contribution is payable under this section even if the aquaculture permit is suspended.

(6) The Minister is to appoint a committee of persons to advise the Minister about the level of services provided to the aquaculture industry for the purposes referred to in subsection (1)(a) and about the amount of contributions for the costs of administration directly attributable to the aquaculture industry. The Minister is to ensure that a majority of the members of such a committee are relevant representatives of the aquaculture industry.