Fisheries (Consolidation) Act, 1959

Bait beds.

242.—(1) It shall be lawful for the owner or occupier of any land bordering on the sea or any estuary, with the permission of the Minister, or for any person, with the consent of such owner or occupier and with the permission of the Minister, to form a bait bed on the seashore (except on a part thereof which is the site of a public bank or bed resorted to for bait) adjacent to such land.

(2) Where a bait bed is, in exercise of the power conferred by this section, planted adjacent to any land, then so long as such land remains in the ownership or occupation of the person in whose ownership or occupation it was at the time of such planting, the following provisions shall have effect:—

(a) the bait bed shall be the private property of the person by whom it was planted (in this subsection referred to as the proprietor), and the proprietor shall have exclusive control over it,

(b) the planting of the bait bed shall not give any exclusive right or title to the occupancy of the shore except for the purposes of the bait bed,

(c) subject to paragraph (a) of this subsection the planting of the bait bed shall not affect the free and full exercise of any public rights of fishing or other public rights what soever on or along the shore,

(d) if any person, without the consent of the proprietor, interferes with the bait bed, or takes away from the bait bed any bait, such person shall be guilty of an offence under this section and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to a fine not exceeding five pounds.