Gujarat Fisheries (Amendment) Rules, 2025

[20th January 2025]

PREAMBLE

WHEREAS certain draft rules were published as required by sub-section (1) of section 6 read with sub-section (3) and (4) of section 30 of the Gujarat Fisheries Act, 2003 (Guj. 08 of 2003), at pages 199 to 200, in the Gujarat Government Gazette, Extraordinary, Part IV-B, dated the 17th October, 2024, under the Government Notification, Agriculture, Farmers Welfare and Co-operation Department No. GHKH/135/FDV/ 102019/49/T, dated the 17th October, 2024, inviting objections or suggestions from all persons likely to be affected thereby within a period of thirty days from the date of publication of the said notification in the Official Gazette;

AND WHEREAS, objections and suggestions received in respect of the said draft rules have been considered by the Government;

NOW, THEREFORE, in exercise of powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 6 read with sub-section (3) and (4) of section 30 of the Gujarat Fisheries Act, 2003 (Guj. 08 of 2003), the Government of Gujarat hereby makes the following rules further to amend the Gujarat Fisheries Rules, 2003, namely:-

Rule 1.

These rules may be called the Gujarat Fisheries (Amendment) Rules, 2025.

Rule 2.

In the Gujarat Fisheries Rules, 2003, (hereinafter referred to as "the said rules") in rule 2, in definitions, after clause (f), the following clauses shall be added, namely:-

(g) Light Fishing or LED Light Fishing means fishing done by using or installing or operating on surface or submerged artificial lights / LED lights (under the sea water), fish light attractors or any other light equipment with or without generators on any type of fishing vessel (craft) for any type of fishing in territorial waters;

(h) "Line fishing method" means the activity of line up fishing in a row by the fishermen using a group of more than two fishing boats.

Rule 3.

In the said rules, in rule 7, after sub-rule (37), the following sub-rules shall be added, namely:-

"(38) No fishing vessel shall operate beyond any area in the "No Fishing Zone" as notified by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India through order dated 4th May, 1993, vide its org no.:1-11011/6/93- ISDI(B).

(39) No fishing vessel shall cross the notional Indo-Pak International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).

(40) Any person engaged in fishing activity or any fishing vessel which crosses or violates the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), the owner of such fishing vessel shall be liable to fine and punishment as per the provisions of section 21 of Gujarat Fisheries Act, 2003 and not get any kind of Fisheries Departments assistance in future.

(41) Facility for docking (entry into the dock) of the vessel seized under sub-section (7) of section 15 of the said Act, charge per day of maintenance Rs.100 /- will be recovered from the owner of the fishing vessels by the Enforcement Officer.

(42) No person shall go for fishing in the fishing boat without valid Identity Cards, necessary Licences / Certificates, required for the operation of such fishing boats, issued by the Government from time to time.

(43) No fishing activities can be done using the "Line Fishing Method" and "Light Fishing or LED Light Fishing Method" or other unauthorized fishing method as well as by using unauthorized nets or other unauthorized devices. On violation of the rule, the owner of such fishing vessel shall be liable to fine and punishment asper the provisions of section 21 of Gujarat Fisheries Act, 2003. "

Rule 4.

In the said rules, in rule 8, under the heading C. "Conditions for Grant of Licence", for the clause (l), the following clause shall be substituted, namely:-

"(l) No fishing boat shall go for fishing without Automatic Identification System (AIS) or any other tracking device, as specified by the Government, with required licenses/ certificates issued by the competent authority and the Automatic Identification System (AIS) or any other tracking device, as specified by the Government, shall be operational throughout the fishing operation."