Sea Fisheries Act, 1992.

This Act makes provision for the control, regulation and protection of sea fisheries in the territorial waters of Nigeria. The first part of the Act concerns the licensing of motor fishing boats. No person shall operate or navigate any motor fishing boat for the purpose of fishing or a reefer vessel for the purpose of discharging frozen fish within the territorial waters of Nigeria or its exclusive economic zone, unless that boat or reefer vessel has been dully registered and licensed (sect. 1). Section 4 specifies criteria for issue of a licence. The owner of a motor fishing boat in respect of which a licence has been issued shall: (a) render to a licensing officer such periodical returns concerning the operation of the motor fishing boat as many be prescribed; and (b) permit a licensing officer or any person authorized in writing by a licensing officer to inspect the catch of the motor fishing boat either before or after the catch has been landed and shall give the licensing officer or that person all reasonable facilities for the inspection of the catch. The second part of this Act concerns enforcement, the prohibition of certain fishing methods and offences and penalties. (17 sections)