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Bill C-96

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SUMMARY

This enactment amends the Coastal Fisheries Protection Act and the Canada Shipping Act in order to implement the Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 Relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks adopted by the United Nations Conference on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in New York on August 4, 1995.

EXPLANATORY NOTES

Coastal Fisheries Protection Act

Clause 1: (1) The definition ``straddling stock'' in section 2 reads as follows:

``straddling stock'' means a prescribed stock of fish.

(2) The relevant portion of the definition ``protection officer'' in section 2 reads as follows:

``protection officer'' means

      ...

      (b) an officer of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, or

(3) New.

Clause 2: New.

Clause 3: (1) and (2) The relevant portion of section 6 reads as follows:

6. The Governor in Council may make regulations

    ...

    (e) generally for carrying out the purposes and provisions of this Act.

Clause 4: Section 7 reads as follows:

7. A protection officer may

    (a) for the purpose of ensuring compliance with this Act and the regulations, board and inspect any fishing vessel found within Canadian fisheries waters or the NAFO Regulatory Area; and

    (b) with a warrant issued under section 7.1, search any fishing vessel found within Canadian fisheries waters or the NAFO Regulatory Area and its cargo.

Clause 5: Section 8 reads as follows:

8. A protection officer may arrest without warrant any person who the officer suspects on reasonable grounds has committed an offence under this Act.

Clause 6: The relevant portion of section 9 reads as follows:

9. Where a protection officer suspects on reasonable grounds that an offence under this Act has been committed, the officer may seize

Clause 7: Sections 10 to 12 read as follows:

10. Subject to section 11, any fishing vessel and goods seized pursuant to section 9 shall be retained in the custody of the protection officer who made the seizure or delivered into the custody of such person as the Minister may direct.

11. Where fish or any other perishable articles are seized pursuant to section 9, the protection officer or other person having the custody thereof may sell them, and the proceeds of the sale shall be paid to the Receiver General or deposited in a bank to the credit of the Receiver General.

12. Any fishing vessel or goods seized pursuant to section 9 or the proceeds realized from a sale pursuant to section 11 shall be returned or paid to the person from whom the fishing vessel or goods were seized if the Minister decides not to institute a prosecution in respect of an offence under this Act, and in any event shall be so returned or paid on the expiration of three months after the day of seizure unless before that time proceedings in respect of the offence are instituted.

Clause 8: New.

Clause 9: New.

Clause 10: Paragraph 18.1(a.1) is new. The relevant portion of section 18.1 reads as follows:

18.1 An act or omission that would be an offence under an Act of Parliament if it occurred in Canada is deemed to have been committed in Canada if it occurs, in the course of enforcing this Act,

Clause 11: Subsection 18.2(3) reads as follows:

(3) Where an act or omission that is an offence by virtue only of section 18.1 is alleged to have been committed on board or by means of a vessel that is registered or licensed under the laws of a state other than Canada, the powers referred to in subsection (1) may not be exercised outside Canada with respect to that act or omission without the consent of the Attorney General of Canada.

Canada Shipping Act

Clause 12: Subsection 504(1) reads as follows:

504. (1) Where the Minister believes on reasonable grounds that any master, mate or engineer is from incompetency or misconduct unfit to discharge his duties, or that in a case of collision he has failed to render such assistance or give such information as is required under sections 568 and 569, the Minister may cause an inquiry to be held.

Clause 13: Paragraph 505(a.1) is new. The relevant portion of section 505 reads as follows:

505. Where on any inquiry held pursuant to section 504 the Minister is satisfied