FISHERIES ACT 1988

Table of Provisions

• Long Title

PART 1--PRELIMINARY MATTERS

• 1 Short title  
• 2 Commencement  
• 2A Objects  
• 2B Aboriginal rights, interests and resources of significance  
• 3 Repeals  
• 4 Interpretation  
• 4A Application of Criminal Code  

PART 2--ADMINISTRATION

• 5 Director of Fisheries  
• 6 Delegation  
• 7 Fisheries Officers  
• 7A Fisheries Inspectors  
• 8 Identity cards  
• 8A Return of identity card  
• 9 Registers  
• 9A Registration of third party interests  
• 9B Notice to registered third party interest holder  

PART 2A--LICENCES, PERMITS AND VESSEL REGISTRATION

Division 1--Requirement for licence or permit

• 10 Requirement for licence  
• 11 Requirement for permit  

Division 2--Licences and permits

• 12 Licence allocation for new fishery  
• 13 Applying for and granting licence or permit  
• 14 Conditions of licence or permit  
• 15 Term of licence or permit  
• 16 Expiry and renewals  
• 16A Transfer of licence  
• 16B Restriction on licensee performing fishing operations  
• 16C Licence not personal property  
• 17 Special permits  

Division 3--Approved operators and persons in charge

• 17A Approved operators  
• 17B Fit and proper person test  
• 17C Identity card  
• 17D Revocation of approval  
• 17E Appointment of approved operator to be person in charge of fishing operations  
• 17F Production of identity card  
• 17G Offence if person in charge not appointed  
• 17H Liability of person in charge for offences by others  
• 17J Liability of licensee for offences by approved operator and others  

Division 4--Registration of vessels

• 17K Requirement for registration of fishing vessels  
• 18 Registration of fishing vessels  
• 19 Tender vessels  

Division 5--Cancellation or suspension of licence, permit or registration

• 20 Cancellation or suspension by court order  
• 20A Cancellation or suspension by Director  
• 20B Cancellation of vessel registration if licence or permit cancelled  
• 20C Surrender of licence or permit  

Division 6--Administrative provisions

• 20D Ministerial guidelines  
• 20E Form of application  
• 20F Notice of decision  
• 20G Grant of licence may be noted on existing licence  

PART 3--FISHERY MANAGEMENT PLANSNOTE FOR PART

• 21 Purposes of Part  
• 22 Management areas and managed fisheries  
• 23 Director to prepare proposed management plans  
• 24 Fisheries management advisory committees  
• 25 Procedure in relation to management plans  
• 25A Amendments to management plans  
• 26 Minister may make emergency amendments to management plans  
• 27 Management plans enforceable as regulations  

PART 4--CONTROL AND ENFORCEMENT

Division 1--Powers of Minister

• 28 General power of Minister  
• 29 Minister may impose emergency restrictions  

Division 2--Powers of Fisheries Officers

• 30 Powers of entry and examination  
• 31 Search  
• 32 General matters relating to powers of Fisheries Officers  
• 33 Powers of seizure  
• 33A Release or forfeiture of things seized or proceeds of sale  
• 33B Protection from liability  
• 33C Powers of Fisheries Officers in relation to permit offences  

Division 3--Records and returns

• 34 Records and returns  
• 34A Movement of fish without proper documents prohibited  
• 35 Offence not to keep or supply records  
• 35A Misleading information  
• 36 Unauthorised disclosure of confidential information  

Division 4--Offences

• 37 Continuing offence  
• 38 Regulatory offences  
• 39 Obstruction of authorised officers  
• 40 Liability of owner or person in control of registered vessel for illegal use of vessel, fishing gear or equipment  
• 40A Failure of licensee or vessel owner to notify change of address for service  
• 40B Unauthorised trafficking in or possession of fish of priority species  
• 41 Falsely identifying fish or aquatic life for sale  
• 42 Buying, selling or possessing fish or aquatic life taken illegally  
• 43 Offences relating to aquaculture  
• 43A Time for commencing prosecution  
• 44 Averments and evidence  
• 45 Liability of directors  
• 45A Court may order payment for permit offences  
• 45B Court may order payment of costs of storage of things seized  
• 46 Court may order forfeiture  

Division 4A--Infringement notice offences

• 46A Infringement notice offence and prescribed amount payable  
• 46B When infringement notice may be given  
• 46C Contents of infringement notice  
• 46D Payment by cheque  
• 46E Withdrawal of infringement notice  
• 46F Application of Division  

Division 4B--Confiscation offences

• 46G Application of Division  
• 46H Contravention notice  
• 46J Seized property to be held by Director  
• 46K Application by alleged offender or owner to Court in relation to contravention notice  
• 46L Application by Director to Court in relation to contravention notice  
• 46M How Court deals with matter  
• 46N Relationship with other seizure powers  

Division 5--Regulations

• 47 Regulations  
• 48 Special Regulations relating to aquaculture  
• 49 Management plans and certain notices to have status of regulations  

PART 5--MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS

Division 1--Review of decisions

• 50 Review of decision made by delegate  
• 50A Review by Tribunal  

Division 2--Other matters

• 51 Fishing Industry Research and Development Trust Fund  
• 52 Fishing Industry Research and Development Trust Fund advisory committee  
• 54 Research and development of fisheries  
• 55 Crown land leases for aquaculture  
• 56 Conversion factors for greenweight of fish  
• 57 Acquisition on just terms  

PART 6--FISHERIES ARRANGEMENTS

Division 1--Joint Authorities

• 58 Powers and functions of Minister  
• 59 Judicial notice  
• 60 Functions of Joint Authority  
• 61 Delegation  
• 62 Procedure of Joint Authority  
• 63 Report of Joint Authority  

Division 2--Arrangements with respect to the management of fisheries

• 63A Definition  
• 64 Arrangements for management of fisheries  
• 64A Variation and termination of arrangements  
• 65 Application of this Act to fisheries in accordance with arrangements  
• 66 Functions, powers and objects of Joint Authority  
• 67 Joint Authority to exercise certain powers instead of Director  
• 68 Application of provisions relating to offences  
• 69 Presumption relating to certain statements  
• 70 Regulations and notices  
Subdivision 2--Joint Authority fishery management plans
• 70A Joint Authority to prepare management plans  
• 70B Fisheries management advisory committees  
• 70C Procedure in relation to management plans  
• 70D Amendments to management plans  
• 70E Joint Authority may make emergency amendments to management plans  

PART 7--TRANSITIONAL MATTERS FOR FISHERIES ACT 1988

• 71 Savings and transitional  

PART 8--TRANSITIONAL MATTERS FOR FISHERIES LEGISLATION AMENDMENT ACT 2016

• 72 Definitions  
• 73 Offence provisions – before and after commencement  
• 74 Licences, permits and vessel registration  
• 75 Pending applications  
• 76 Pending reviews by Director  
• 77 Pending reviews by Local Court  
• 78 Identity cards  
• 79 Register  
• 80 Pending applications for registration of third party interests  
• 81 Management plans  
• 82 Fishing Industry Research and Development Fund  
• 83 Fishing Industry Research and Development Fund advisory committee  
• SCHEDULE 1
• SCHEDULE 2
• SCHEDULE 3
ENDNOTES