31Search

31 Search (1) Subject to section 32, where a Fisheries Officer is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that an offence against this Act has been, is being, or is about to be committed and whether after an examination under section 30 or otherwise, the officer may, without warrant: (a) enter, with such force as is reasonably necessary, at any time, any vehicle, vessel, premises or place and, for that purpose, stop and detain any vehicle or vessel; and Fisheries Act 1988 42 (b) search the vehicle, vessel, premises, or place and stop and detain any person found in or on them or it and any person whom the officer reasonably believes to be about to enter or to have recently left the vehicle, vessel, premises, or place; and (c) break open and search any container, whether a fixture or not, in or on the vehicle, vessel, premises, or place; and (d) detain, remove, and secure any vehicle, vessel, or fishing gear, or any plant, motor, appliance, fitting, or equipment (including fishing monitoring equipment and vessel monitoring systems) in, on, or attached to any vehicle, vessel, premises, or place, or any fish or aquatic life or other thing that is found on any vehicle, vessel, premises, or place if the officer has reasonable grounds for believing that it is evidence of or otherwise relates to an offence that has been, is being, or is about to be committed against this Act; and (e) require the master or other person in charge of a vehicle or vessel to cause it to stop or to bring it to a place in the Territory and to remain in control of it at that place until a Fisheries Officer permits the master or other person to depart from that place; and (f) require a person to open a locked, barred or otherwise secured gate, door or container; and (g) take such action as is reasonably necessary to prevent the commission of an offence against this Act. under subsection (1)(e) or (f) and the person is reckless in relation to the result.