Powers to regulate, restrict or prohibit certain fishing activities within specified area.

(1) The State Government may, having regard to the matters referred to in sub-section (2), by notification in the Official Gazette, regulate, restrict or prohibit in any specified area,- (a) the fishing by such class or classes of fishing vessels and for such period as may be specified in the notification; (b) the catching of such species of fish and for such period as may be specified in the notifiction, (c) the use of such fishing gears as may be specified in the notification, (d) the mariculture, (e) the collection of biological specimen, and (f) the number of fishing vessels which may be used for fishing. (2) In issuing a notification under sub-section (1), the State Government shall have regard to the following matters, namely:- (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, (b) the need to conserve fish and to regulate fishing on scientific basis, (c) the need to maintain law and order in the sea and on shore, and (d) any other matter, that may be prescribed.