Definitions.

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,- 1[(a) "Adjudicating Officer" means the Assistant Commissioner of Fisheries having jurisdiction to exercise the powers conferred on, and discharge the duties imposed upon, an Adjudicating Officer by this Act ;] 2[(a-i) "Advisory and Monitoring Committee" means the State Advisory and Monitoring Committee constituted under section 3;] 3* * * **

1. (c) "Enforcement Officer" means the Assistant Fisheries Development Officer having jurisdiction, and includes any other Officer of the 4[Commissionerate of Fisheries], not below the rank of Assistant Fisheries Development Officer, authorised by the State Government, by notification in the Official Gazette, to exercise the powers conferred on, and discharge the duties imposed upon, an Enforcement Officer by this Act, in such area as may be specified in the notification ; 5[(c-i) "fish" means finfish, molluscs, crustaceans and all other forms of marine animal and plants other than marine mammals, reptiles and sea birds ; (c-ii) "fisheries" means "fishing" and "fishing related activities" and includes,-
   • (i) searching for or tracking or trailing or pursuing fish;
   • (ii) catching or taking or harvesting of fish by any method;
   • (iii) landing, packaging, marketing, processing, preserving, transshipping or transporting of fish ;
   • (iv) any operations at sea directly linked to any activity described under this clause ; (c-iii) "fishing gear" means tools such as any net, cage, trap or other contrivance used to capture "fish" and used in "fishing related activities" ;] 6[(d) "fishing vessel" means a boat, ship or vessel, whether or not fitted with mechanical means of propulsion, which is engaged in sea fishing for profit, and includes,-
   • (i) a non-motorized vessel,
   • (ii) a motorized vessel, and
   • (iii) a mechanized vessel, engaged in sea fishing for profit ;]
2. (e) "Licensing Officer" means the Assistant Fisheries Development Officer having jurisdiction, and includes any other officer of the 7[Commissionerate of Fisheries], not below the rank of Assistant Fisheries Development Officer, authorised by the State Government, by notification in the Official Gazette, to exercise the powers conferred on, and discharge the duties imposed upon, a Licensing Officer by this Act, in such area as may be specified in the notification ; 8[(e-i) "master", in relation to a fishing vessel, means any person having command or charge of the vessel or having the responsibility of the vessel ; (e-ii) "mechanized vessel" means any fishing vessel with engine permanently fitted in the hull, which uses machine power for propulsion as well as fishing operation like casting and pulling of fishing gear, engaged in sea fishing for profit ; (e-iii) "motorized vessel" means any fishing vessel that has an engine fitted outside or inside on vessel which is used only for propulsion and not for fishing operation ; (e-iv) "non-motorized vessel" means any fishing vessel that does not use any engine (mechanical) power for propulsion as well as fishing operation ; (e-v) "operator" (tandel) means any person or enterprise, that controls the operation or management of a fishing vessel or who has assumed the responsibility for the operation of the vessel ; (e-vi) "owner", in relation to a fishing vessel, means the owner of the vessel as well as any other person, including any organization or association of person, whether incorporated or not, by whom the vessel or a share in the vessel is owned ;]
3. (f) "Port" means the space within such limits as may, from time to time, be defined by the State Government, by notification in the Official Gazette, for the purpose of this Act ;
4. (g) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act ;
5. (h) "registered fishing vessel" means a fishing vessel registered under section 9 ; 9[(i) "Registration Officer" means the Assistant Commissioner of Fisheries and includes any other Officer authorised by the State Government by notification in the Official Gazette, to exercise the powers conferred on, and discharge the duties imposed upon, a Registration Officer by this Act, in such area as may be specified in the notification ;]
6. (j) "specified area" means such area in the sea along the entire coast line of the State, but not beyond territorial waters, as may be specified by the State Government, by notification in the Official Gazette ;
7. (k) "State" means the State of Maharashtra, and includes the territorial waters along the entire coast line of that State; 10[(l) "sustainable fishing" means fishing activities that do not cause or lead to undesirable changes in the biological and economic productivity, biological diversity or ecosystem structure and functioning from one human generation to the next.]