49General permit

49 General permit S. 49(1) amended by No. 68/2016 s. 62(1). (1) The Victorian Fisheries Authority may issue a general permit to a person. S. 49(2) amended by No. 68/2016 s. 62(1). (2) The Victorian Fisheries Authority may authorise the holder of the permit to do one or more of the following— S. 49(2)(a) amended by No. 51/2007 s. 9(1)(a). (a) to take or possess fish for research, education, fish management, aquaculture, compliance or scientific purposes; or S. 49(2)(b) amended by No. 51/2007 s. 9(1)(a). (b) to take or possess fish from a developing fishery; or (c) to carry out any research, exploitation, work or operation for the purpose of developing any fishery or aquaculture; or (d) to investigate any species of fish or any fishery or any device; or (e) to sell or dispose of any fish obtained by the person under the permit; or S. 49(2)(f) amended by No. 80/2000 s. 5, substituted by No. 51/2007 s. 9(2). (f) to use or possess specified commercial abalone equipment, commercial fishing equipment, commercial aquaculture equipment or recreational fishing equipment; or S. 49(2)(g) inserted by No. 80/2000 s. 5, amended by No. 51/2007 s. 9(1)(b)(i). (g) for commercial purposes— (i) to use, form or create a habitat (whether natural, artificial or partly natural or artificial) for hatching, rearing, breeding, displaying or growing fish or fishing bait; S. 49(2)(g)(ii) amended by No. 17/2002 s. 5(1), substituted by No. 51/2007 s. 9(1)(b)(ii). (ii) to hatch, rear, breed, display, grow or sell fish or fishing bait; or S. 49(2)(h) inserted by No. 17/2002 s. 5(2). amended by No. 51/2007 s. 9(1)(c). (h) to take or possess fish (in areas where recreational fishing is authorised under this Act) for a specified indigenous cultural ceremony or event; or S. 49(2)(i) inserted by No. 51/2007 (i) to sell any fish of a specified priority species; or S. 49(2)(j) inserted by No. 51/2007 (j) to take or possess more fish than the catch limit for that species of fish; or S. 49(2)(k) inserted by No. 51/2007 s. 9(1)(d), amended by No. 40/2019 s. 13(1). (k) to take or possess fish that are less than the minimum size, or that are more than the maximum size, for that species of fish; or S. 49(2)(l) inserted by No. 51/2007 (l) to take fish of a specified species of fish during the closed season for that species of fish; or S. 49(2)(m) inserted by No. 51/2007 (m) to take, land, process, sell or possess fish of a specified species of fish that is prohibited from being taken, landed, processed, sold or possessed— (i) absolutely or during a specified period; or (ii) in any waters or specified waters; or S. 49(2)(n) inserted by No. 51/2007 (n) to carry out an activity in a fishery if the activity is not inconsistent with any regulations, management plan or Ministerial direction. S. 49(2A) inserted by No. 60/2005 s. 31. (2A) A general permit does not authorise the carrying out of any activity— (a) specified in subsection (2)(b), (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g); and (b) specified in subsection (2)(a), to the extent that it applies to aquaculture— in any national park, wilderness park or State park (within the meaning of the **National Parks Act 1975**) or any reference area (within the meaning of the **Reference Areas Act 1978**). S. 49(2B) inserted by No. 60/2005 s. 31. (2B) Subsection (2A) does not apply to any general permit in force immediately before 7 March 2005, to the extent of any entitlements under that permit that were in force at that time. S. 49(3) amended by No. 68/2016 s. 62(2). (3) A general permit continues in force for the period specified on the permit by the Victorian Fisheries Authority, unless it is sooner cancelled under this Act. S. 49(4) amended by No. 68/2016 s. 62(3). (4) The Victorian Fisheries Authority may specify a period of up to 3 years for the purposes of subsection (3). S. 49(5) amended by No. 68/2016 s. 62(3)(4). (5) The Victorian Fisheries Authority must not issue a general permit to a person unless the Victorian Fisheries Authority is satisfied that the person is a fit and proper person to hold the permit. S. 49(6) amended by No. 68/2016 s. 62(4). (6) A general permit is not renewable, but the Victorian Fisheries Authority may issue another general permit to a person whose general permit is about to expire or who has previously held a general permit. (7) A general permit is not transferable. S. 49(8) amended by No. 68/2016 s. 62(5). (8) The Victorian Fisheries Authority may cancel a general permit at any time and without notice. S. 49(9) inserted by No. 40/2019 s. 13(2). (9) If the Victorian Fisheries Authority has cancelled a general permit under subsection (8) on the ground that the holder of the general permit has ceased to be a fit and proper person to hold the general permit, the Victorian Fisheries Authority may specify a time not exceeding 7 years within which the same person may not apply for the issue or transfer of a fishery licence, or the issue of a permit, under this Act. S. 50 substituted by No. 5/1997