Definitions.

In this Regulation, unless the context otherwise requires,- (a) "adjudicating officer" means any officer of the Fisheries Department not below the rank of an Assistant Director of Fisheries authorised under section 3 to exercise the powers conferred on, and to discharge the duties imposed upon, such an officer by this Regulation for such area as may be specified by notification in the Official Gazette. (b) "Administration" means the Administration of the Union territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands; (c) "Administrator" means the Administrator of the Union territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands appointed by the President under article 239 of the Constitution; (d) "Appellate Board" means the Appellate Board constituted under section 18; (e) "authorised officer" means an officer not below the rank of an Assistant Director of Fisheries, authorised by the Administrator by notification in the Official Gazette, to exercise the powers conferred on, and discharge the duties imposed upon such officer by this Regulation; (f) "fish" means any vertebrate and invertebrate animal in the sea, and includes fish, crustacean, shellfish, sea cucumber (beche-de-mer), sea grasses and corals (dead or living), excluding the animal covered under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972; (g) "Fisheries Department" means a Fisheries Department of the Administration; (h) "fishery officer" means an officer of the rank of Assistant Fisheries Guard but not above the rank of Assistant Fisheries Development Officer in the Department of Fisheries or any other officer of the Administration or the Central Government, as may be appointed by the Administrator by notification in the Official Gazette; (i) "fishing" means, exploitation, catching or collection of vertebrate and invertebrate animals in the sea excluding animals covered under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, and includes fish, crustacean, Shellfish, sea cucumber (beche-de-mer), sea grasses and corals (dead or living) by applying or operating any fishing gears or culture of fish and its harvest in the waters surrounding the Union territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands; (j) "fishing gears" in relation to fishing, includes implements, nets, hooks and lines, cages, traps harpoon, but does not include the explosives, poisons and chemicals or any other device of mass destruction; (k) "fishing vessels" means a ship or boat, whether or not fitted with mechanised means of propulsion, which is engaged in sea fishing for profit and includes a catamaran, country craft, canoe and dinghy engaged in sea fishing; (l) "port" means the space within such limits as may, from time to time, be defined by the Administrator, by notification in the Official Gazette, for the purposes of this Regulation; (m) "prescribed" means prescribed by rule made under this Regulation; (n) "registered fishing vessel" means- (i) a fishing vessel registered under section 11 of the Marine Products Export Development Authority Act, 1972; (ii) a vessel registered as a fishing vessel under section 9; (o) "specified area" means such area or areas in the waters surrounding the Union territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, but not beyond the territorial waters, as may be specified by the Administrator, by notification in the Official Gazette.