(1)Within thirty-six hours of the commencement of the annual close season for salmon and trout, all the moveable parts of a salmon weir shall be removed from the weir and shall be taken from thence.
(2)The moveable parts of a salmon weir shall not be placed in or on that weir earlier than thirty-six hours before the expiration of the annual close season.
(3)During the annual close season (except the first and the last thirty-six hours thereof) the moveable parts of a salmon weir shall not be allowed to remain in or on that weir.
(4)If in respect of any salmon weir there is a contravention of the provisions of subsection (1), (2) or (3) the occupier of the weir shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding [F1 £500] or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.
(5)Nothing in subsection (4) shall be construed as rendering liable to any penalty an occupier of a salmon weir who satisfies the court that he was prevented by floods, storm or stress of weather from complying with subsection (1) during the continuance of that prevention.
(6)Where the occupier of a salmon weir is convicted of an offence under this section, F2. . . the Ministry, may cause to be removed from the salmon weir the moveable parts in respect of which the offence was committed and may recover from the occupier any expenses reasonably incurred in so doing.
(7)In this section the expression “moveable parts” means, in relation to a salmon weir, the inscales and heck of every box in the salmon weir and all other fittings and articles used in connection with those boxes which are capable of removal.
F2Words in s. 92(6) repealed (1.6.2009) by virtue of Public Authorities (Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2009 (c. 3), ss. 1(3)(b), 6, 7(1), Sch. 1 Pt. 2 para. 3(24), Sch. 3 (with Sch. 1 Pt. 1 para. 4(3)); S.R. 2009/172, art. 2(b)(e)