131Endorsement of commercial fishing licences

131 Endorsement of commercial fishing licences

131 Endorsement of commercial fishing licences

(1) The Minister may endorse the commercial fishing licence of a person only if—

(a) the person satisfies the eligibility requirements for an endorsement, and

(b) any fee or contribution due and payable in connection with the endorsement has been paid.

(2) The Minister may refuse to endorse the commercial fishing licence of a person who is otherwise eligible if—

(a) the person or, if the person is a nominated fisher, the entitlement holder who nominated the person has been convicted of an offence against the Act or the regulations or an offence relating to commercial fishing operations under a law of the Commonwealth, of another State, a Territory or of New Zealand, or

(b) the person or, if the person is a nominated fisher, the entitlement holder who nominated the person has been convicted of an offence relating to the theft of fish, fishing gear or a boat or intentional damage to fishing gear or a boat, or

(c) the person or, if the person is a nominated fisher, the entitlement holder who nominated the person has been convicted of an offence under the Marine Estate Management Act 2014 or the regulations made under that Act, or

(d) the person or, if the person is a nominated fisher, the entitlement holder who nominated the person has, in the opinion of the Minister, contravened a condition of an endorsement or a commercial fishing licence, or

(e) the person has previously held an endorsement which has been suspended or cancelled by the Minister.

(3) An application for an endorsement is to be made to the Minister in a form approved by the Secretary.