8. Insertion of new sections 14A and 14B in the principal enactment

Official English translation. Where it differs from the Sinhala or Tamil text, the Act itself says which text prevails.

The following new sections are hereby inserted immediately after section 14 of the principal enactment, and shall have effect as sections 14A and 14B of that enactment :—

“Director-General of the Authority.

14A. (1) The Director-General may with the approval of the Board, nominate such officers of the Authority not below the rank of an

Aquaculture Extension Officer, to be appointed as Licensing Officers by the

Director-General of Fisheries and Aquatic

Resources.

(2)

Any officer appointed as a Licensing

Officer shall, in addition to exercising the powers referred to in section 14B, be required to perform and discharge any duties or functions that may be assigned to such Officers by the Director-General of Fisheries and

Aquatic Resources.

14B. (1) A Licensing Officer shall have the power to—

(a)

call for and examine at any time a licence issued to any person for the purpose of operating or engaging in an aquaculture operation;

(b)

inspect and examine any place or premises in respect of which a licence has been issued ;

(c)

take copies of any documents required to be kept and maintained by a licence holder as specified in the terms and conditions of a licence issued or any regulations made under this Act or the Fisheries and

Aquatic Resources Act, No. 2

of 1996, pertaining to the same ;

“Nomination of Licensing

Officers.

Powers and functions of

Licensing

Officers.

National Aquaculture Development Authority of

(d)

enter and search any place or premises at all reasonable hours of the day in which the

Licensing

Officer has reasonable cause to believe that any activity inconsistent with the provisions of this Act or the Fisheries and Aquatic

Resources Act, No. 2 of 1996

is being carried on ;

(e)

take samples of any fish or other aquatic resource found in any place or premises searched under paragraph (d) ;

(f)

seize any poisonous, stupefying substance, including dynamite or other noxious or harmful material, which he has reason to believe has been used or may be used to capture or collect any aquatic resource or ornamental fish ;

(g)

to seize any boat, fishing net or other fishing gear or equipment, vehicle or thing which he has reason to believe, has been used in or in connection with the commission of an offence under this Act or the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act,

No. 2 of 1996 or any regulations made thereunder ;

and

(h)

perform and discharge any duty or function assigned to him by the Director-General or the Board, as the case may be.

(2)

A Licensing Officer may seek the assistance of the Police in the performance, discharge and exercise of his powers, duties and functions under this Act and it shall be the duty of the Police to render all such assistance as is requested.”.

Read on from s 9