28. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires " aquatic plant" means any seaweed, photoplankton or other aquatic flora ; " authorized officer " means any officer not below the rank of Fisheries Inspector appointed under the Fisheries Ordinance, any member of the Navy not below the rank of petty officer, any member of the Air Force not below the rank of Sergeant, any police officer not below the rank of Sergeant and any other person designated as such by name or by office, by the Minister in writing ; "Director" means the Director of Fisheries appointed under section 2 of the Fisheries Ordinance ; " Deputy Director " means a Deputy Director of Fisheries appointed under section 2 of the Fisheries Ordinance ; "fish" means any aquatic animal, whether piscine or not, and includes any shellfish, crustacean, mollusc, holothurian or aquatic mammal, and its young, fry, eggs or spawn ; "fishing" means catching, taking or killing fish or collecting aquatic plants by any method and includes an attempt to catch, take or kill fish, or to collect aquatic plants ; " fishing boat" means any vessel for the time being used for fishing or related activities ; " foreign fishing boat" means any fishing boat other than a local fishing boat; "local fishing boat" means any fishing boat-
| (a) wholly owned by the Government of Sri Lanka or any public corporation established by, or under, any law of Sri Lanka; |
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| (b) wholly owned by one or more persons who are citizens of Sri Lanka ; or |
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| (c) wholly owned by any company, society or other association of persons, incorporated or established under the law of Sri Lanka, a majority of the voting shares of which are held by citizens of Sri Lanka, |
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and registered under the Merchant Shipping Act, No. 52 of 1971; " prescribed " means prescribed by regulation made under this Act; " related activities " in relation to fishing means-
| (a) transhipping fish to or from any boat or vessel; |
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| (b) storing, processing or transporting fish or aquatic plants obtained from fishing operations; |
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| (c) refuelling or supplying fishing boats or performing other activities in support of, or ancillary to, fishing operations ; |
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| (d) attempting or preparing to do any of the above ; |
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" Sri Lanka waters" means
| (a) the area declared to be the territorial sea of Sri Lanka by proclamation made under section 2 of the Maritime Zones Law, No. 22 of 1976 ; |
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| (b) the area declared to be the contiguous zone of Sri Lanka by proclamation made under section 4 of the Maritime Zones Law, No. 22 of 1976: |
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| (c) the area declared to be the exclusive economic zone of Sri Lanka by proclamation made under section 5 of the Maritime Zones Law, No. 22 of 1976 ; |
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| (d) the area declared to be the historic waters of Sri Lanka by proclamation made under section 9 of the Maritime Zones Law, No. 22 of 1976 ; and |
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| (e) all public bays, rivers, lakes, lagoons, estuaries, streams, tanks, pools, ponds, channels and all other public inland or internal waters. |
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Sri Lanka Consolidated Acts