Fisheries Act, 1980

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Functions of Central Board.

8.—(1) (a) The Central Board shall—

(i) co-ordinate and, where it considers it necessary so to do, direct the performance by regional boards of the functions assigned to them under this Act,

(ii) ensure that any fishery, hatchery or fish farm which is in its possession or occupation is managed, conserved, protected, developed and improved, or otherwise dealt with, both properly and in accordance with any direction given by the Minister under paragraph (b) of this subsection,

(iii) ensure that directions given by the Minister under this section are carried into effect,

and in performing the function mentioned in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph the Central Board shall ensure that regional boards in the performance of their functions have regard to such directions by the Minister under this section as are for the time being in force.

(b) The Minister may from time to time give to the Central Board directions containing general policy for the management, conservation, protection, development and improvement of fisheries or for the protection of molluscs, and the Central Board shall, if so directed by the Minister, as soon as may be, communicate to every regional board any direction given by the Minister under this paragraph.

(c) (i) The Central Board shall within the period of two years beginning on the appointed day (or such longer period as the Minister may allow) prepare and submit to the Minister for his consideration an inland fisheries development programme.

(ii) Where the Central Board has prepared and submitted a development programme under this subsection, it shall from time to time as occasion may require, and at least once in every five years after the date of the submission to the Minister of the programme, review the programme and make in it any variations whether by way of alteration, addition or deletion which it considers proper and shall submit to the Minister for his consideration the results of the review.

(iii) A programme under this subsection may contain recommendations regarding the conservation of inland fisheries and may have regard to any programme under section 11 of this Act.

(d) The Central Board may make recommendations to the Minister as to the exercise by the Minister of the powers conferred on him by section 29 of the Act of 1962, the levels of fishery rates, fishery licence duties payable under the Fisheries Acts, 1959 to 1980, and levies payable under section 55 of this Act.

(e) (i) The Central Board may with the approval of the Minister provide education courses or facilities for training or otherwise instructing persons in any matter relating to the management, conservation, protection, development or improvement of fisheries,

(ii) subject to the approval of the Minister, the Central Board may as regards any course or facility provided in pursuance of this paragraph charge fees of such amount as may be so approved.

(f) The Central Board may, subject to the payment to it of such fees as it shall determine, provide such services regarding the management, conservation, protection, development or improvement of fisheries, or such other matter relating to fisheries, or the promotion of such other matter so relating, as it shall think fit.

(g) Subject to section 2 (2) of this Act, the Central Board may as regards any fishery carry out such research or experimental work as it considers necessary for the performance of its functions but this paragraph shall not be construed as enabling the Central Board to carry out research or experimental work on, or in relation to, any species of fish which is sea-fish within the meaning of Part XIII of the Principal Act, other than research which is similar or analogous to research in relation to sea-fish which was being carried on by the Trust prior to its dissolution.

(2) The Central Board may, for so long and subject to such conditions as it shall determine, place under the care and management of a regional board any fishery, hatchery or fish farm which is in its possession or occupation.

(3) (a) The Minister may, if he thinks fit, authorise the Central Board to engage in the processing and marketing of such species of fish as are specified in the authorisation.

(b) The Minister may by order assign to the Central Board such other functions relating to fisheries (being functions additional to the functions assigned to the Central Board by this Act) as he thinks fit.