S.I. No. 261/1983:

FISHERIES ACT, 1980 (SECTION 54) (COMMENCEMENT) ORDER, 1983.

FISHERIES ACT, 1980 (SECTION 54) (COMMENCEMENT) ORDER, 1983.

I, PADDY O'TOOLE, Minister for Fisheries and Forestry, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 54 (18) of the Fisheries Act, 1980 (No. 1 of 1980), and the Fisheries (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order, 1977 ( S.I. No. 30 of 1977 ) (as adapted by the Fisheries (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order, 1978 ( S.I. No. 195 of 1978 )), hereby order as follows:

1. This Order may be cited as the Fisheries Act, 1980 (Section 54) (Commencement) Order, 1983.

2. The 31st day of August, 1983, is hereby fixed as the day on which section 54 of the Fisheries Act, 1980 (No. 1 of 1980), shall come into force.

GIVEN under my Official Seal, this 31st day of August, 1983.

PADDY O'TOOLE,

Minister for Fisheries and Forestry.

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

This Order brings Section 54 of the Fisheries Act 1980 (No. 1 of 1980) into effect from 31st August, 1983.

Section 54 provides for a revised system of licensing and control for existing and proposed fish farming operations. One of the main provisions of the Section is that any person or body corporate engaging in fish farming may do so only in accordance with a fish culture licence, an oyster bed licence, an oyster fishery order or a licence granted by the Minister under Section 54. The Minister may also designate areas where fish farming may be carried out in accordance with such licences and hold public enquiries for this purpose.