(1)A person who by any means removes or causes to be removed from any waters—
(a)any salmon or trout which has been injured or killed otherwise than by lawful means; or
(b)any salmon or trout which has been found dead, from any cause whatever, by that person;
shall be guilty of an offence.
(2)Subsection (1) shall not apply to any of the following persons—
(a)any person acting under the authority of the Ministry; or
(b)F1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(c)any owner of a fishery in those waters; or
(d)any agent of the owner of a fishery in those waters; or
(e)any member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary; or
(f)[F2 any person acting under the authority of a district council].[F3 or]
[F3(g)any private water bailiff appointed to protect those waters.]
(3)Where a person is charged with an offence under this section in respect of any fish it shall be a good defence to prove that he removed the fish from any waters, or caused it to be so removed, solely for the purpose of delivering it to a person designated in any of paragraphs ( a) to ( f) of subsection (2), and that he did so deliver it before being required to do so by any such person.
F1S. 88(2)(b) repealed (1.6.2009) by Public Authorities (Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2009 (c. 3), ss. 1(3)(b), 6, 7(1), Sch. 1 Pt. 2 para. 3(23), Sch. 3 (with Sch. 1 Pt. 1 para. 4(3)); S.R. 2009/172, art. 2(b)(e)
F2SRO (NI) 1973/343