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The Gujarat Fisheries Act, 2003
The Gujarat Fisheries Act, 2003
Sections
1. Short title, extent and commencement.
Section 12. Definitions.
Section 23. Prohibition against destruction of fish by explosive.
Section 34. Prohibition against destruction of fish by poisoning of water.
Section 45. Prohibition against introduction of exotic fish.
Section 56. Power to make rules to protect fish.
Section 67. Powers to regulate, restrict or prohibit certain fishing activities within specified area.
Section 78. Prohibition of use of fishing vessels in contravention of notification issued under section 7.
Section 79. Prohibition of using fishing vessel which are not licensed.
Section 910. Licensing of fishing vessels.
Section 1011. Cancellation, suspension and amendment of License.
Section 1112. Registration of vessel.
Section 1213. Permission for operating vessel for the area other than specified in certificate of registration.
Section 1314. Returns to be furnished by owner of registered fishing vessel.
Section 1415. Powers of Enforcement Officer.
Section 1516. Finality of orders.
Section 1617. Appeal.
Section 1718. Application of sections 4 and 12 of Limitation Act, 1963.
Section 1819. Revision.
Section 1920. Bar of jurisdiction of civil courts.
Section 2021. Offences and penalties.
Section 2122. Offences by Companies.
Section 2223. Cognisance of offences.
Section 2324. Constitution and composition of Fisheries Terminal Authority.
Section 2425. Functions of Authority.
Section 2526. Amount to be charged for providing services.
Section 2627. Exemption.
Section 2728. Members, officers and employees to be public servants.
Section 2829. Protection of action taken in good faith.
Section 2930. Power to make rules.
Section 3031. Repeal.
Section 31
gujarat-fisheries-act-2003.json
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31 Sections
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Gujarat
{
"id": 16788,
"slug": "gujarat-fisheries-act-2003",
"title": "The Gujarat Fisheries Act, 2003",
"short_title": "The Gujarat Fisheries Act, 2003",
"act_number": "Gujarat Act No. 8 of 2003",
"act_year": 2003,
"act_type": "STATE",
"location": "Gujarat",
"law_status": "unknown",
"enactment_date": null,
"description": "The Gujarat Fisheries Act, 2003",
"preamble": "",
"section_label": "Section",
"sections": [
{
"number": "1",
"title": "1. Short title, extent and commencement.",
"chapter": null,
"content": "",
"footnote": "",
"is_definition": false,
"sort_order": 0
},
{
"number": "2",
"title": "2. Definitions.",
"chapter": null,
"content": "(a) \"Adjudicating Officer\" means such fishery officer not below the rank of Deputy Director of Fisheries, as the State Government may appoint for the purpose of section 17;\n(b) \"biological specimen\" means any living or dead organisms;\n(c) \"Enforcement Officer\" means such fishery officer as the State Government may appoint for the purpose of section 15;\n(d) \"Exotic fish\" means all species of fish of any country other than India;\n(e) \"fish\" means any aquatic animal and aquatic vegetation in all stages of their life span;\n(f) \"Fishery officer\" means an officer appointed by the State Government to be fishery officer for the purposes of this Act and includes an officer appointed to exercise the powers and perform functions of the Fishery officer;\n(g) \"fishing vessel\" means any type of fishing crafts whether or not fitted with mechanical device for propulsion, which is engaged in fishing;\n(h) \"fishing gear\" means any net, cage, trap or other contrivance used for fishing;\n(i) \"Licensing Officer\" means such fishery officer, not below the rank of Superintendent of Fisheries, as the State Government may appoint for the purpose of section 10'\n(j) \"mariculture\" means the culture of fish on the margin of sea in territorial waters;\n(k) \"Fishing Harbour\" means the place such as port, harbour, wharf, pier, dock, jetty and landing place where landing or berthing facilities have been provided for fishing vessels and their adjoining areas ser apart for repair yards, fuel and ice supply installations, auction hall, fish processing plant and within such limits as may be specified by the State Government from time to time;\n(l) \"prescribed\" means prescribed by rules made under this Act;\n(m) \"private water\" means water-\n(i) which is the exclusive property of any person, or\n(ii) in which any person has for the time being an exclusive right of fishing whether as owner, lessee or in any other capacity;\n(n) \"registered fishing vessel\" means a fishing vessel registered under section 12;\n(o) \"Registration Officer\" means such fishery officer as the State Government may appoint for the purpose of section 12;\n(p) \"specified area\" means the area of specified inland water or the territorial water as the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette , specify;\n(q) \"specified inland water\" means such inland water as the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette , specify;\n(r) \"territorial waters\" in relations to the State of Gujarat means any part of the open sea adjoining the coast of the State within a distance of twelve nautical miles measured in accordance with sub-section (2) of section 3 of the Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf-Exclusive Economic Zone and other Maritime Zones Act, 1976 (80 of 1976).\nChapter II\nProtection of Fish",
"footnote": "",
"is_definition": true,
"sort_order": 1
},
{
"number": "3",
"title": "3. Prohibition against destruction of fish by explosive.",
"chapter": null,
"content": "",
"footnote": "",
"is_definition": false,
"sort_order": 2
},
{
"number": "4",
"title": "4. Prohibition against destruction of fish by poisoning of water.",
"chapter": null,
"content": "",
"footnote": "",
"is_definition": false,
"sort_order": 3
},
{
"number": "5",
"title": "5. Prohibition against introduction of exotic fish.",
"chapter": null,
"content": "",
"footnote": "",
"is_definition": false,
"sort_order": 4
},
{
"number": "6",
"title": "6. Power to make rules to protect fish.",
"chapter": null,
"content": "(a) Prohibiting or regulating:-\n(i) the erection or use of fishing gear,\n(ii) the construction of weirs, dam and bunds,\n(iii) the release of any industrial waste sewage or effluent to the inland waters which may be harmful to species of fish or the food of fish.\n(b) regulating the dimension and the kind of nets to be used and the mode of using them;\n(c) prohibiting all fishing in the specified waters for a period not exceeding two years;\n(d) prohibiting the use of any gun, spear, arrow or the like in any water, with intent thereby to make or destroy any of the fish therein;\n(e) prohibiting introduction of any kind of fish which may be harmful to species of fish, without obtaining prior permission;\n(f) regulating any fishery in inland waters;\n(g) to lease out public water resource for a specified period and to charge fees for such lease;\n(h) regulating the standard of sale of fish spawn, fry, fingerling and yearling;\n(i) prohibiting the fishing and marketing of the fish during closed season.\n(i) the seizure, forfeiture and removal of fishing gear erected or used in contravention of the rules,\n(ii) the forfeiture of any fish taken by means of any such fishing gear, and\n(iii) the forfeiture of fish taken or sold during the period specified in clause (i) of sub-section (1).\nChapter III\nRegulation of Fishing In Specified Area",
"footnote": "",
"is_definition": false,
"sort_order": 5
},
{
"number": "7",
"title": "7. Powers to regulate, restrict or prohibit certain fishing activities within specified area.",
"chapter": null,
"content": "(a) the fishing by such class or classes of fishing vessels and for such period as may be specified in the notification;\n(b) the catching of such species of fish and for such period as may be specified in the notification,\n(c) the use of such fishing gears as may be specified in the notification,\n(d) the mariculture,\n(e) the collection of biological specimen, and\n(f) the number of fishing vessels which may be used for fishing.\n(a) the need to protect the interest of different sections of persons engaged in fishing, particularly of those engaged in fishing by use of traditional fishing craft such as catamaran, country craft or canoes,\n(b) the need to conserve fish and to regulate fishing on scientific basis,\n(c) the need to maintain law and order in the sea and on shore, and\n(d) any other matter, that may be prescribed.",
"footnote": "",
"is_definition": false,
"sort_order": 6
},
{
"number": "7",
"title": "8. Prohibition of use of fishing vessels in contravention of notification issued under section 7.",
"chapter": null,
"content": "",
"footnote": "",
"is_definition": false,
"sort_order": 7
},
{
"number": "9",
"title": "9. Prohibition of using fishing vessel which are not licensed.",
"chapter": null,
"content": "",
"footnote": "",
"is_definition": false,
"sort_order": 8
},
{
"number": "10",
"title": "10. Licensing of fishing vessels.",
"chapter": null,
"content": "(a) whether the fishing vessel is a registered fishing vessel,\n(b) The condition of the fishing vessel including accessories and fishing gear with which it is fitted,\n(c) any notification issued under section 7,\n(d) whether the specified period is mentioned in the application, and\n(e) any other factors that may be prescribed.",
"footnote": "",
"is_definition": false,
"sort_order": 9
},
{
"number": "11",
"title": "11. Cancellation, suspension and amendment of License.",
"chapter": null,
"content": "(a) a licence granted under section 10 has been obtained by misrepresentation as to an essential fact, or\n(b) the holder of a licence has, without reasonable cause, failed to comply with any of the conditions subject to which the licence has been granted or has contravened any of the provisions of this Act or the rules made or any notification issued thereunder, then without prejudice to any other penalty to which the holder of the licence may be liable under this Act, the Licensing Officer may, after giving the holder of the licence a reasonable opportunity of being heard, suspend or cancel the licence.",
"footnote": "",
"is_definition": false,
"sort_order": 10
},
{
"number": "12",
"title": "12. Registration of vessel.",
"chapter": null,
"content": "(b) the owner of such vessel shall state in the application the port or fisheries harbour from which he intends to operate his vessel.\n(a) in the case of a vessel existing on the date of the commencement of this Act, be made within three months from the said date, and\n(b) in the case of any other vessel, be made by the owner thereof within one month, from the date he becomes the owner thereof.\n(b) The certificate of registration be in such form and on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed.\n(c) The Registration Officer shall specify in the certificate of registration, the port or fisheries harbour from which the owner of vessel is to operate his vessel.\n(d) The particulars of certificate of registration shall be entered in the register to be kept in such form as may be prescribed.",
"footnote": "",
"is_definition": false,
"sort_order": 11
},
{
"number": "13",
"title": "13. Permission for operating vessel for the area other than specified in certificate of registration.",
"chapter": null,
"content": "(b) On receipt of an application under clause (a), the Registration Officer may, by an order either grant or refuse to grant the permission.\n(c) The Registration Officer may, by an order, terminate the permission granted under clause (b) before the expiry of the period for which it was granted:",
"footnote": "",
"is_definition": false,
"sort_order": 12
},
{
"number": "14",
"title": "14. Returns to be furnished by owner of registered fishing vessel.",
"chapter": null,
"content": "",
"footnote": "",
"is_definition": false,
"sort_order": 13
},
{
"number": "15",
"title": "15. Powers of Enforcement Officer.",
"chapter": null,
"content": "(i) enter and search such vessel and impound such vessel and seize any fish found in it,\n(ii) keep the impounded fishing vessel in such place and in such manner as may be prescribed,\n(iii) dispose of the fish so seized and deposit the proceeds thereof in such manner as may be prescribed, and\n(iv) make a report of the contravention to the Court if the offence is punishable under clause (b), (c), (d) or (e) of sub-section (1) of section 21 and in other cases, to the Police officer in charge of a police station.",
"footnote": "",
"is_definition": false,
"sort_order": 14
},
{
"number": "16",
"title": "16. Finality of orders.",
"chapter": null,
"content": "Chapter IV\nAppeals and Revision",
"footnote": "",
"is_definition": false,
"sort_order": 15
},
{
"number": "17",
"title": "17. Appeal.",
"chapter": null,
"content": "(a) the Licensing Officer under section 10 refusing to grant a licence for a fishing vessel or under section 11 suspending, canceling, varying or amending a licence granted for a fishing vessel, or\n(b) the Registering Officer under section 12 refusing to grant the registration of vessel or canceling the registration of vessel or under section 13 refusing permission to operate vessel at other port or fishing harbour or terminating such permission may, within thirty days from the date on which the order is communicated to him, prefer an appeal to the Adjudicating Officer:",
"footnote": "",
"is_definition": false,
"sort_order": 16
},
{
"number": "18",
"title": "18. Application of sections 4 and 12 of Limitation Act, 1963.",
"chapter": null,
"content": "",
"footnote": "",
"is_definition": false,
"sort_order": 17
},
{
"number": "19",
"title": "19. Revision.",
"chapter": null,
"content": "(i) in a case where an appeal lies under section 16 but no appeal has been filed, or\n(ii) in a case where appeal has been made under section 17 and such appeal is pending.",
"footnote": "",
"is_definition": false,
"sort_order": 18
},
{
"number": "20",
"title": "20. Bar of jurisdiction of civil courts.",
"chapter": null,
"content": "Chapter V\nOffences and Penalties",
"footnote": "",
"is_definition": false,
"sort_order": 19
},
{
"number": "21",
"title": "21. Offences and penalties.",
"chapter": null,
"content": "(b) Whoever uses any fishing vessel for fishing in contravention of section 8 shall, on conviction, be punished with fine not exceeding fifty thousand rupees.\n(c) Whoever uses any fishing vessel which is not licensed for fishing in any specified area in contravention of section 9 shall, on conviction, be punished with fine not exceeding fifty thousand rupees.\n(d) Whoever operates his fishing vessel from any port or fishery harbour other than that specified in the certificate of registration in contravention of subsection (1) of section 13 shall, on conviction, be punished with fine not exceeding twenty thousand rupees.\n(e) Any person who commits a breach of any of the provisions of the rules or the order made under this Act shall be punishable with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees and when breach is continuing one, with a daily fine not exceeding one hundred rupees during the period of continuance of such breach.",
"footnote": "",
"is_definition": false,
"sort_order": 20
},
{
"number": "22",
"title": "22. Offences by Companies.",
"chapter": null,
"content": "(a) \"company\" means a body corporate and includes a firm or other association of individuals, and\n(b) \"director\" in relation to a firm means a partner in the firm.",
"footnote": "",
"is_definition": false,
"sort_order": 21
},
{
"number": "23",
"title": "23. Cognisance of offences.",
"chapter": null,
"content": "Chapter VI\nFisheries Terminal Authority",
"footnote": "",
"is_definition": false,
"sort_order": 22
},
{
"number": "24",
"title": "24. Constitution and composition of Fisheries Terminal Authority.",
"chapter": null,
"content": "(i) Commissioner of Fisheries\nChairman\n(ii) One representative from the Gujarat\n\t\t\t\tMaritime Board\nMember\n(iii) One representative from Marine Products\n\t\t\t\tExport Development Authority\nMember\n(iv) One representative from the Gujarat\n\t\t\t\tElectricity Board\nMember\n(v) One representative from the Gujarat Water\n\t\t\t\tSupply and Sewage Board\nMember\n(vi) One representative from the Gujarat\n\t\t\t\tFisheries Central Co-operative Association\nMember\n(vii) One representative from the National Bank\n\t\t\t\tFor Agricultural and Rural Development\nMember\n(viii) One representative from the National\n\t\t\t\tCo-operative Development Corporation\nMember\n(ix) One representative from Fish Processors\n\t\t\t\tAssociation\nMember\n(X) One representative from Boat Owners\n\t\t\t\tAssociation\nMember\n(xi) One representative from Custom Department\nMember\n(xii) One representative from Fish Traders\nMember\n(xiii) One representative from Lead Bank\nMember\n(xiv) One representative from the concerned\n\t\t\t\tlocal Municipality\nMember\n(xv) Deputy Director of concerned region.\nMember-Secretary",
"footnote": "",
"is_definition": false,
"sort_order": 23
},
{
"number": "25",
"title": "25. Functions of Authority.",
"chapter": null,
"content": "(a) to develop, regulate and control the fisheries harbour terminals;\n(b) to acquire land and purchase of equipment and machinery for fisheries harbour terminals;\n(c) to provide safety measures for arrival and departure of the vessels and shore installations within the fisheries harbour terminals;\n(d) to arrange quick and hygienic handling and disposal of fish within the fisheries harbour terminals;\n(e) to keep the fisheries harbour area clean and free from pollution;\n(f) to perform such other functions as may be entrusted by State Government; and\n(g) to do such other functions as are necessary for efficient discharge of functions of the Authority.",
"footnote": "",
"is_definition": false,
"sort_order": 24
},
{
"number": "26",
"title": "26. Amount to be charged for providing services.",
"chapter": null,
"content": "Chapter VII\nMiscellaneous",
"footnote": "",
"is_definition": false,
"sort_order": 25
},
{
"number": "27",
"title": "27. Exemption.",
"chapter": null,
"content": "",
"footnote": "",
"is_definition": false,
"sort_order": 26
},
{
"number": "28",
"title": "28. Members, officers and employees to be public servants.",
"chapter": null,
"content": "",
"footnote": "",
"is_definition": false,
"sort_order": 27
},
{
"number": "29",
"title": "29. Protection of action taken in good faith.",
"chapter": null,
"content": "",
"footnote": "",
"is_definition": false,
"sort_order": 28
},
{
"number": "30",
"title": "30. Power to make rules.",
"chapter": null,
"content": "(a) the protection of fish under section 6;\n(b) the form in which the application for grant of licence for fishing vessel shall be made and the particulars and the fees which shall accompany such application under sub-section (2) of section 10;\n(c) the form in which and the terms and conditions on which the licence for fishing vessel may be granted under sub-section (5) of section 10;\n(d) the rules subject to which the Licensing Officer may vary or amend the licence under sub-section (2) of section 11;\n(e) the form in which the application for registration of vessel shall be made and the particulars and the fees which shall accompany such application under sub-section (2) of section 12;\n(f) the form in which and the terms and conditions on which certificate of registration shall be granted and the form in which the register for entering the particulars of such certificate shall be made under subsection (5) of section 12;\n(g) the manner in which the registration mark of vessel shall be displayed by the owner under sub-section (7) of section 12;\n(h) the form in which, the period within which, the date by which and the manner in which the owner shall furnish the return under sub-section (1) of section 14;\n(i) the place at which and the manner in which the impounded fishing vessel shall be kept by the Enforcement Officer under section 15;\n(j) the manner in which the fish so seized shall be disposed of by the Enforcement officer and to deposit the proceeds thereof under section 15;\n(k) the rules subject to which the State Government may call for and examine record of order passed by Adjudicating officer under sub-section (1) of section 19, and\n(l) any other matter which is to be or may be prescribed under this Act.",
"footnote": "",
"is_definition": false,
"sort_order": 29
},
{
"number": "31",
"title": "31. Repeal.",
"chapter": null,
"content": "",
"footnote": "",
"is_definition": false,
"sort_order": 30
}
],
"metadata": {
"Act ID": "guj061",
"Act Number": "Gujarat Act No. 8 of 2003",
"Enactment Date": "",
"Act Year": "2003",
"Short Title": "The Gujarat Fisheries Act, 2003",
"Type": "STATE",
"Location": "Gujarat"
},
"updated_at": "2026-09-29 21:52:47"
}