179Protection of leased areas

#### 179 Protection of leased areas 179 Protection of leased areas > > (1) A person, other than the lessee or the lessee’s agents or employees, must not— > > > > > (a) remove, or in any way injure or interfere with, any fish or marine vegetation cultivated or kept within the leased area or any thing used for the purpose of aquaculture on a leased area, without the consent of the lessee, or > > > > > (b) deposit anything on a leased area or dredge or dig within a leased area, except in accordance with Division 3 of Part 7 or, if that Division does not apply, by direction or authority of the lessee or the Minister. > > > > Maximum penalty—In the case of a corporation, 100 penalty units or, in any other case, 50 penalty units. > > > (2) This section does not apply to the placing of any thing on a leased area for the purpose of navigation. > > > (3) A person who is found guilty of an offence against this section is liable to compensate the lessee for all damage that the lessee has sustained as a result of the person’s unlawful act. The lessee may, by proceedings brought in a court of competent jurisdiction, recover as a debt the amount of that compensation. > > > (4) If the Minister fails to authorise an act referred to in subsection (1)(b) at the request of a public authority or trustees in whom the land concerned is vested, the matter may be referred to the Premier for resolution by the Minister responsible for the authority or trustees. > > **s 179:** Am 2009 No 114, Sch 1 \[80\].