(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act and the Rules made thereunder, any owner of a fishing vessel or fixed gear or free net and any person intending to engage in aquaculture, conduct of hatchery or filtration shall submit an application for registration to the authorised officer of the place under whose jurisdiction the fishing vessel or free net or fixed gear is to be used or aquaculture, conduct of hatchery or filtration is to be undertaken.
(2) Every application for registration shall be in such form, contain such particulars and accompanied by such fees as may be prescribed.
(3) Every application for registration of a fishing vessel or fixed gear or free net shall be submitted to the authorised officer before the expiry of three months from the date on which he becomes the owner or before the expiry of six months from the commencement of this Act, whichever is later:
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Provided that the authorised officer may for sufficient reasons to be recorded in, writing and on realising such additional fees, as may be prescribed for this purpose, extend the time limit for registration as he deems fit for a period not exceeding three months.
(4) The authorised officer may, after making such enquiry as he deems fit, either grant or refuse to grant the registration.
(5) The authorised officer may refuse the grant of registration if he is satisfied, that,—
(a) such registration shall be inconsistent with any law in force; or
(b) fishing vessel or fixed gear or free net or aquaculture or filtration is defective or do not have the standard or quality as prescribed by Rules made under this Act; or
(c) such registration shall adversely affect the public interest; or
(d) the applicant has not furnished the particulars prescribed for such registration:
Provided that the reasons for such refusal shall be recorded by the authorised officer.
(6) A registration granted under this section shall be in such form as may be prescribed and subject to such provisions and conditions and the particulars thereof shall be entered in a register in such prescribed form, to be kept by the authorised officer.
(7) The authorised officer shall assign a symbol as may be prescribed as an identification symbol of registration which shall be displayed at a conspicuous place of the fishing vessel or fixed gear or free net or in the place of aquaculture or filtration, as the case may be.
(8) The registration once granted under this Act or the Rules made thereunder shall continue to be in force until it is suspended or cancelled by the authorised officer.