(1) All fishing vessels/boats other than a fishing vessel registered under section 11 of the Marine Products Export Development Authority Act, 1972 (Central Act 13 of 1972), boat building yards, processing plant, ice factory and other industries related to fisheries shall be registered under this Act. Any new construction of fishing boat shall also be got approved.
(2) Every application for registration or approval under sub-section (1) shall be made by the owner thereof to the authorised officer in such form and in such manner and shall be accompanied by such fees as may be prescribed,-
(a) before the expiry of one month from the date on which he became the owner thereof; or
(b) before the expiry of three months from the date of commencement of this Act, whichever is later:
Provided that the authorised officer may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, extend the time limit for registration by such period not exceeding six months at a time, as he may think fit.
(3) The authorised officer shall assign a registration number to the vessel and issue to the owner of the vessel registered by him a certificate of registration in the prescribed form and shall enter the particulars of the certificate in the register to be kept by him in such form as may be prescribed:
Provided that the authorised officer may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, refuse to register the vessel.
(4) The registration once made shall continue to be in force until it is cancelled by the authorised officer.
(5) Every fishing vessel registered under this section shall carry the registration mark assigned to it by the authorised officer and such mark shall be displayed on the vessel in the prescribed manner.
(6) No fishing vessel, other than a registered fishing vessel, shall be entitled to apply for a licence under section 6.
532 Information to be given to the authorised officer about movement of fishing vessels
10. Where a registered fishing vessel moves from the area of one port to the area of another port, for fishing in that area, the owner of such fishing vessel shall give information to that effect, in the prescribed manner, to the authorised officer by whom such fishing vessel was registered and also to the port officer having jurisdiction over the area to which such fishing vessel moves.
Returns to be furnished by owners of registered fishing vessels