Fisheries Act, 1980

Disqualification of member of regional board by non-attendance at meetings.

17.—(1) A member of a regional board who absents himself during a period of six consecutive months from all meetings of the Board shall be disqualified from continuing to be a member of such board and one fortnight after the expiration of such period his seat on such board, shall, subject to subsection (2) of this section, become and be vacant.

(2) (a) Whenever a member of a regional board is about to become or has been disqualified under subsection (1) of this section from continuing to be a member of such board, subject to paragraph (b) of this subsection, such board may, not later than one fortnight after the expiration of the period mentioned in the said subsection (1) and if the board is satisfied that the special circumstances of the case justify the board in so doing, extend the said period by such further period as the board thinks proper, and thereupon the said subsection (1) shall have effect in that particular case as if such extended period were substituted for the said period of six consecutive months, but no such period of six consecutive months shall be extended under this subsection more than once.

(b) A period shall not be extended by a regional board under this subsection unless—

(i) at least two-thirds of the members of the board are present at the relevant meeting of the board when the question is determined, and

(ii) of such members so present, at least two-thirds vote in favour of the extension.