4.—(1) An IFC authority may exercise its functions under section 179 and 181 at any time before the transfer date only for the purpose of preparing for its exercise of functions under Chapter 1 of Part 6 of the Act on and after that date.
(2) At any time before the transfer date an IFC authority may authorise employees of a relevant local fisheries committee to exercise functions of the authority for the purpose mentioned in paragraph (1).
(3) In this article—
“local fisheries committee” has the meaning given by section 188(6) of the Act;
“relevant local fisheries committee” means, in relation to an IFC authority, a local fisheries committee whose district is wholly or partly comprised in the district of the authority;
“the transfer date” means the date on which section 187 of the Act comes into force in relation to England(1).
Section 187 repeals the Sea Fisheries Regulation Act 1966 (c. 38). It was brought into force in relation to Wales on 1.04.2010 (S.I. 2010/630 (C. 42)) and is to be brought into force in relation to England on a day to be appointed by the Secretary of State by order under section 324 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009.