Authorisation of officers for the purpose of any provisions of this Act

The Government may by notification in the Official Gazette, authorize— (a) any officer of the Government not being an officer below the rank of a Gazetted Officer; or (b) any Officer of the Central Government, not being any officer below the rank of a Gazetted Officer or a Commissioned Officer in the armed forces of the Union, with the consent of that Government, to exercise the powers conferred on and discharge the duties imposed upon any such authorised officer under this Act in such area as may be specified in the notification. (1) Every owner of a fishing vessel which is mechanically propelled shall make an application accompanied by a licence fee of Rs. 205/- to the authorised officer, for the grant of a licence for using such fishing vessel in the specified area in Form A. (2) The authorised officer shall, while granting or refusing the licence, apart from the conditions specified in clause (a), (b) & (c) of sub-section (4) of section 6, have regard to the number of fishing vessels already licensed in the area where the fishing vessel is sought to be operated. (3) If the authorised officer, after making such enquiries as deemed fit, decides to grant the licence applied for he shall issue a licence in Form B, which shall be valid for a period of one year from the date of issue. (4) The authorised officer, having regard to the area in which the fishing vessel is sought to be operated, may direct the applicant to deposit an amount which shall be not less than Rs. 210/- but not more than Rs. 250/- as security deposit for the due observance of the conditions of the licence. (5) Licence issued will be valid for one year and will have to be renewed annually by paying renewal fee of Rs. 50/-.