Explanatory note

This order varies the Receiving of Trans-shipped Sea Fish (Licensing) Order 1982, which prohibits the receiving within British fishery limits by any vessel (whether British or foreign) of any pelagic sea fish which—

(a) have been caught by any British fishing boat registered in the United Kingdom, and

(b) are trans-shipped from a boat so registered to the receiving vessel,

unless authorised by a licence granted by one of the Ministers.

The variation made by this order extends this prohibition on receiving fish without a licence so that it applies in respect of any pelagic sea fish trans-shipped within British fishery limits from any vessel, whether caught by a British fishing boat or by a foreign fishing boat. However, the variation also provides that where the fish were caught by a foreign fishing boat, it shall be a defence, unless the receiving took place in British territorial waters, to show that the fish were caught outside British fishery limits.