Fisheries Act 2020

14 (1) Section 132 (interim byelaws) is amended as follows.

(2) After subsection (1) insert—

“(1A) The MMO may make one or more byelaws relating to the exploitation of sea fisheries resources in the English offshore region for the purpose of protecting any feature in an area in that region if the MMO thinks—

(a) that there are or may be reasons for the Secretary of State to consider whether to designate the area as an MCZ, and

(b) that there is an urgent need to protect the feature.”

(3) In subsection (2), after “subsection (1)” insert “or (1A)”.

(4) In subsection (4), for “an interim byelaw” substitute “a byelaw made under subsection (1)”.

(5) After subsection (4) insert—

“(4A) Section 129C applies to a byelaw made under subsection (1A) as it applies to a byelaw made under section 129A or 129B.”