Sikkim Fisheries Act, 1980
No: 3 Dated: Apr, 11 1980
THE SIKKIM FISHERIES ACT, 1980
SIKKIM ACT NO. 3 OF 1980
An Act to provide for conservation, propagation, development and the modes of disposal of fisheries in Sikkim.
Be it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of Sikkim in the Thirty-first Year of the Republic of India as follows:
1. Short title, extent and commencement. - (1) This Act may be cal1ed the Sikkim Fisheries Act, 1980.
(2) It shall extend to the whole of Sikkim.
(3) It shall come into, force on, such date as the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette; appoint.
2. Definition. - In this Act and the rules made there under unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context.
(i) 'fish' includes shell-fish in all stages of its life including aquatic plants and animals of' fisheries value;
(ii) 'fishing gear' means any net, line rod and line, fishing tackle or other appliances used for the purpose of, catching fish;
(iii) 'fishing craft' means any boat manually operated or operated by power used for the purpose of fishing or the transport of fish;
(iv) 'fishing offence' means any offence punishable under this Act or any rule made there under;
(v) 'fishery officer' means any person whom the State Government. may, from time to time, appoint by name or as holding, an office to carry out all or any of the purposes of-this Act or to do anything - required by, this Act or any rule made there under:
Provided that no police officer below the rank of Sub-Inspector shall be so empowered;
(vi) 'fixed engine' means -any net, cage, trap or other contrivance for taking fish -fixed in the soil or made stationary in the other way;
(vii) 'Notification' means a notification published in the Official Gazette;
(viii) private waters' means water which are the exclusive properly of any person, or in which any person has for the time being an exclusive right of fishery 'whether as owner, lessee or in any other capacity and includes tanks, ponds, artificial lake etc; excavated' at expenses of the owner which have' no communication at any season with the natural waters of any river, streams, or canals;
Explanation.- Water shall not cease to be private water within the meaning of this definition by reason only that other persons may have by custom a right of fishery therein;
(ix) 'State Government' means the Government of the State of Sikkim;
(x) 'Religious water' means water belonging to a religious 'body or institution and' which has by reason thereof and on religious grounds never been fished before;
Explanation. - The provisions of this definition shall not however, debar the State Government to develop such water with fisheries which. however, will not be subjected to commercial use without the consent of the religious body or institution or the persons who may have customs attached to such water;
(xi) 'religious body' means the trustees or any other person who are in charge of a 'religious institution or in whom the ownership of the religious institution vests for the time being;
(xii) 'religious institution' means a temple, a mosque, a church, a monastery or any other shrine dedicated to any God or Goddess and such other institutions as the State Government may, by notification, declare in this behalf;
(xiii) 'section or 'sub-section' means a section or subsection of this Act unless referred to any other Act.
3. Powers to make rules. - (1) The State Government may make rules for the purposes mentioned hereinafter in this section and shall under such rules declare the waters, not being private waters, to which all or any of them shall apply.
(2) The State Government may by notification apply such rules or any of them to any private water with the consent in writing of the owner thereof and of all persons having for the time being any exclusive right of fishery therein.
(3) The State Government may make rules for the propagation and development of fisheries in private waters which may include grant of financial help therefor.
Explanation. - Financial help shall include loans, subsidy or grants in- aid.
(4) Such rules may,
(a) prohibit or regulate all or any of the following matters
(i) the erection and use of fixed engines;
(ii) the construction of weirs, bunds and diversion of natural waters for killing fish; and
(iii) the dimension and kinds of fishing gears and modes of their use.
(b) prohibit fishing except under a license and regulate the granting of such licenses, the fees payable therefor and the conditions to be inserted therein;
(c) prohibit destruction or attempt to destroy fish by any gear which the State Government may consider harmful or destructive;
(d) prescribe seasons in which the killing or catching or, sale of any fish of any prescribed species shall be prohibited;
(e) prescribe a minimum size or weight below which no fish of any prescribed species shall be taught, killed or sold;
(f) prohibit fishing in any specified water far a specified period;
(g) prescribe modes, means, agency and procedures of business of fisheries within and out side the State;
(h) regulate export of fish or specified species of fish outside any area or areas and also prescribe the rate for sale of fish in any market of the State;
(i) regulate and prescribe lease of mortgage of tank, pond or land for construction of pond intended for stocking in such tank or pond with fish of any class;
(j) regulate the possession of fishing craft and gear within any specified limits as may appear to be necessary.
(k) such rules may, among other matters, also provide for the examination of fish" in transit within specified limits.
(5) In making any rules under this section the State Government may provide for
(a) seizure, removal and forfeiture of any apparatus erected or used for fishing in contravention of the rules;
(b) forfeiture of any fish taken by means of any such apparatus;
(c) confiscation of any consignment of fish held or transported in contravention of the rules.
4. Power to prohibit sale of fish. - The State Government may by notification prohibit in any specified areas the offering or exposing for sale or barter of any fish killed or caught in contravention of any rules made under sub-section (4) of section 3 of this Act.
5. Penalties. - (1) The breach of any rule made under section 3 or of any prohibition notified under section 4 shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to three months or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees or with both, and when the breach is a continuing one, with a further fine which may extend to ten rupees for each day during which the breach is continued after the first day.
(2) If any person convicted of an offence under this Act, commits a like offence afterwards then, he shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees or with both for each subsequent offence.
6. Destruction of fish by explosive and punishment therefore. - If any person uses any dynamite or other explosive substances in any water with intent thereby to catch or destroy fish that may be therein, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to one thousand' rupees or with both.
7. Destruction of fish by poisoning and punishment there for. - If any person puts any poison, lime or noxious material into any water with intent thereby to catch or destroy any fish which may be therein, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees or with both.
8. Offence cognisable. - Notwithstanding anything contained in the Law relating to Criminal Procedure in force in Sikkim, the offences under this Act shall be cognisable and any property used for committing fishing offence may be forfeited to the State.