1Conservation in the exercise of sea fisheries functions

(1)In discharging any functions conferred or imposed on him or them by or under the Sea Fisheries Acts, the Minister or Ministers or any relevant body shall, so far as is consistent with the proper and efficient discharge of those functions—

(a)have regard to the conservation of marine flora and fauna; and

(b)endeavour to achieve a reasonable balance between that consideration and any other considerations to which he is or they are required to have regard.

(2)In this section—

• “enactment” does not include an enactment contained in Northern Ireland legislation;

• “the Minister or Ministers” means any one of the following or any two or more of them acting jointly, namely—

  (a)

  the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food;

  (b)

  the Secretaries of State respectively concerned with the sea fishing industry in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; and

  (c)

  the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland;

• “relevant body” means any local fisheries committee constituted under the [1966 c. 38.] Sea Fisheries Regulation Act 1966 or any authority exercising the powers of such a committee;

• “the Sea Fisheries Acts” means any enactments for the time being in force relating to sea-fishing, including any enactment relating to fishing in the sea for shellfish, salmon or migratory trout.

2Short title, commencement and extent

(1)This Act may be cited as the Sea Fisheries (Wildlife Conservation) Act 1992.

(2)This Act shall come into force at the end of the period of two months beginning with the day on which it is passed.

(3)This Act extends to Northern Ireland.