Fisheries Act 2020

Duty to comply with request of another sea fish licensing authority

4 (1) This paragraph applies where—

(a) a sea fish licensing authority exercises its licensing functions in relation to sea fishing licences granted in respect of fishing boats of a particular description so as to—

(i) limit the authority conferred by the licences, or

(ii) attach conditions to the licences; and

(b) the limit or conditions mentioned in paragraph (a) apply when the fishing boats are in an area for which the authority is responsible.

(2) The sea fish licensing authority mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) (“the requesting authority”) may request any other sea fish licensing authority (“the other authority”) to exercise its licensing functions in such a way that the licences granted by the other authority in respect of fishing boats of the same description, so far as they confer authority in relation to the area mentioned in sub-paragraph (1)(b), are made subject to the limit or conditions mentioned in sub-paragraph (1)(a).

(3) The other authority must comply with the request unless, in its opinion, it is unreasonable to do so.

(4) References in this paragraph to an area for which a sea fish licensing authority is responsible are—

(a) in the case of the Scottish Ministers, to an area in Scotland or the Scottish zone;

(b) in the case of the Welsh Ministers, to an area in Wales or the Welsh zone;

(c) in the case of the Northern Ireland department, to an area in Northern Ireland or the Northern Ireland zone;

(d) in the case of the Marine Management Organisation, to any other area within British fishery limits.