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Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009

Offences
Section 163: Offences

456.This section establishes offences and penalties. A person is guilty of an offence if he contravenes any byelaw made by an IFC authority. Where a vessel is used in contravention of a byelaw the master, owner and charterer (if any) will each be guilty of an offence. A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) is liable upon summary conviction to a maximum fine of £50,000. Subsection (4) ensures that magistrates’ courts have jurisdiction over byelaw offences that are committed at sea, by treating them as having been committed in any part of England and Wales.

Section 164: Powers of court following conviction

457.This section provides that where a person is convicted of an offence, the court may order forfeiture of any fishing gear used in the commission of the offence or any fish in respect of which an offence was committed. If the fish are in a container, the container may also be forfeited. As an alternative, the court may order that person to pay a sum of money representing the value of the fishing gear or fish. Where there has been a breach of the conditions of a permit granted by an IFC authority, the court may suspend the permit or disqualify the person from holding or obtaining any IFC authority permit relating to any activity to which that permit related. A permit may be suspended or disqualified for such period as the court sees fit.

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