20Power of seizure

20 Power of seizure

(1)  Where an authorized officer has reasonable grounds for believing that an offence has been committed under this Act with respect to a whale or product of a whale, he may seize that whale or that product.

(2)  Where an authorized officer has reasonable grounds for believing that any hunting equipment has been used in, or in connection with, the commission of an offence under this Act, he may seize that hunting equipment.

(3)  Where, pursuant to this section, an authorized officer has seized any hunting equipment, that officer may retain it until the determination of any proceedings that may be instituted in respect of an offence against this Act against the person from whom it was seized.

(4)  Where any hunting equipment has been seized from any person under this Act and no proceedings have been instituted against that person for an offence on conviction for which it may be forfeited to the Crown, a court of petty sessions, on the application of that person, may direct it to be returned to him, and, on the making of that direction, the authority under subsection (3) to retain it ceases.

(5)  Any person who, when required to do so by an authorized officer, refuses to deliver to that authorized officer any hunting equipment the authorized officer is entitled to seize under this section, is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding 20 penalty units.