Commentary on provisions of Act Access to British fisheries and regulation of foreign fishing boats Section 12: Access to British fisheries by foreign fishing boats
This section sets out when foreign fishing boats may enter British fishery limits (which equates to the UK’s EEZ). The section replaces section 2 of the Fishery Limits Act 1976 (the 1976 Act). Currently section 2 of the 1976 Act, as amended by the devolution Acts (e.g. the Scotland Act 1998), enables the Secretary of State and the Devolved Administrations to designate, by order, the foreign countries whose boats may enter British fishery limits. The Act sets out this process, replacing this order-making procedure.
	Subsection (1) provides that a foreign fishing boat may only enter British fishery limits if it has a sea fishing licence or for a purpose recognised by international law or by any international agreement or arrangement.
	Subsection (2) requires that foreign fishing boats must leave British fishery limits as soon as their purposes under subsection (1) have been fulfilled.
	Subsection (3) makes it an offence for the master, owner and the charterer of a foreign fishing boat to breach these requirements. Subsection (4) notes that further provisions on offences may be found in the Act and in the Sea Fisheries Act 1968.