Chapter I PRELIMINARY

1. (1) This Regulation may be called the Lakshadweep Marine Fisheries Regulation, 2026.
2. (2) It extends to the whole of the Union territory of Lakshadweep.
3. (3) It shall come into force on such date as the Administrator may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.

In this Regulation, unless the context otherwise requires,—

1. (a) “adjudicating officer” means an officer authorised by the Administrator, by notification under sub-section (2) of section 13;
2. (b) “Administration” means the Administration of the Union territory of Lakshadweep;
3. (c) “Administrator” means the Administrator of the Union territory of Lakshadweep appointed by the President under article 239 of the Constitution;
4. (d) “Appellate Authority” means an Authority appointed by the Administrator by notification under sub-section (1) of section 16;
5. (e) “authorised officer” means an officer appointed by the Administrator, by notification under section 3;
6. (f) “Department” means the Department of Fisheries in the Union territory of Lakshadweep;
7. (g) “fish” includes all marine flora and fauna, live or dead, excluding the species covered under the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972;
8. (h) “fish aggregating device” means man-made drifting or anchored buoys or raft or boats or any other object with or without light connected to it, so as to attract and aggregate fishes and other organisms;
   • (i) “fisheries” means fishing and fishingrelated activities and includes harnessing, conservation, research, recreation and management thereof;
9. (j) “fishing” means searching for or trailing or pursuing fish, catching or taking or harvesting fish by any method including recreational and sport fishing;
10. (k) “fishing gear” means any net, cage, trap or other contrivance used for fishing;
11. (l) “fishing related activities” includes collection, landing, packaging, marketing, processing, preserving, or live transportation of fish, transhipping or transporting of fish that have not been previously landed at port;
12. (m) “fishing vessel” means a ship or a boat whether or not, fitted with mechanical means of propulsion which is engaged in sea fishing or allied activities and includes wooden or fibre reinforced plastic canoes, dinghies, sailing vessel, catamaran, country craft and the like;
13. (n) “Master” means any person, by whatever name called, having command or charge of the fishing vessel;
14. (o) “notification” means a notification published in the Official Gazette and the expressions “notify” or “notified” shall be construed accordingly;
15. (p) “Official Gazette” means the Official Gazette of the Union territory of Lakshadweep;
16. (q) “owner” in relation to a fishing vessel, means the person in whose name the fishing vessel is registered under the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958. Explanation.––For the purposes of this clause, the expression “person” includes any company or association or body of individuals, whether incorporated or not;
17. (r) “port” means the place such as port, fishing harbour, wharf, pier, dock,jetty and fish landing centre where landing or berthing facilities have been provided for fishing vessels and their adjoining areas set apart for repair yards, fuel and ice supply installations, auction hall, fish processing plant and within such limits asmay be notified by the Administrator from time to time; “prescribed”means prescribed by the rules made by the Administrator under this Regulation;
18. (t) “specified area” means such area or areas in the sea, land, lagoon and internal waters around the Union territory of Lakshadweep, but not beyond the territorial waters, as may be notified by the Administrator;
19. (u) “territorial waters” shall have the same meaning as referred to in section 3 of the Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and Other Maritime Zones Act, 1976;
    • (v) “Union territory” means the Union territory of Lakshadweep.

The Administrator may, by notification, authorise,––

1. (a) any officer of the Administration, not being an officer below the rank of a Gazetted Officer; or
2. (b) any officer of the Central Government, not being an officer below the rank of a Gazetted Officer, with the consent of that Government, to exercise the powers conferred on, and discharge the duties imposed upon, as an authorised officer in such area as may be notified.

The Administrator may, notify from time to time,—

1. (a) such area or areas in the sea, land, lagoon and internal waters around the Union territory, but not beyond the territorial waters, as specified area;
2. (b) any area or place or space within the specified area as port, fishing harbour or fish landing centre, as the case may be.

1. (1) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), the Administrator may, by notification, regulate, restrict or prohibit the matters relating to––
   • (a) fishing in specified area by such class or classes of fishing vessels;
   • (b) the number of fishing vessels which may be used for fishing in specified area;
   • (c) fishing in any specified area of such species of fish and for such period;
   • (d) the use of such fishing gear or engine power or fish aggregating devices in specified area;
   • (e) fishing and fishingrelated activities in respect of such size in specified area;
   • (f) juvenile fishing and fishingrelated activities in specified area. Explanation.––For the purposes of this clause, the expression “juvenile fishing” means fishing of a young fish or organism that has not reached sexual maturity and not yet capable of breeding;
   • (g) the size including the size of the mesh of fishing nets;
   • (h) the use of dynamites or any other explosive substances, poisons or noxious chemicals, or destructive materials or any destructive methods for fishing; and
     • (i) the hours in a day during which any person may carry on fishing or fishing related activities in specified area using such class or classes of fishing vessels.
2. (2) While issuing a notification under sub-section (1), the Administrator shall have due regard to the following, namely:––
   • (a) protect the interests of different sections of persons engaged in fishing, exempting country crafts and other small vessels and fishers from the purview of regulation for licence;
   • (b) conserve fish and regulate fishing on a scientific basis;
   • (c) maintain law and order at the sea; and
   • (d) any other matter as may be prescribed.
3. (3) No owner or Master of a fishing vessel shall use, or allow such fishing vessel to be used, for fishing or fishing related activities in any manner, which contravenes the provisions of this section: Provided that nothing in this section shall be construed as preventing the passage of any fishing vessel from, or to, the shore, through any specified area to, or from, any area other than a specified area for the purpose of fishing or for any other purpose: Provided further that the passing of such fishing vessel through any specified area shall not, in any manner, cause damage to fishing nets or tackles belonging to any person who engages in fishing in the specified area by using any traditional fishing craft such as catamaran, country craft and canoe, in accordance with the provisions of this Regulation.