Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (Amendment) Act, No. 27 of 2023.

This Act amends the Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Act, 1996 (principal Act). It repeals and substitutes section 14F of the principal Act, relating to prohibition of fishing in foreign waters. A new Part IIB is inserted after Part IIA of the principal Act containing new sections 14O and 14P. Section 14O prohibits Illegal, Unreported or Unregulated fishing (IUU fishing) in Sri Lanka Waters or High Seas and Section 14P provides for cancellation of registration of fishing boats involved in IUU fishing. Section 16A of the principal Act is repealed and section 49 is amended. Sections 49B and 49C are inserted which lay down the penalty for IUU fishing. Section 66 of the principal Act is amended to add the definition for Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing Operations and Skipper.