Fisheries Act, 1897

This is a very old general fisheries law from 1897, meant to work alongside (not replace) any other fisheries laws in force in a given area. Section 4 makes it an offence to use dynamite or any other explosive substance in any water, including the sea within one marine league of the coast, with intent to catch or destroy fish — punishable with imprisonment up to two months or a fine up to two hundred rupees.

Section 5 similarly punishes putting poison, lime or other noxious material into water to catch or destroy fish, with the same penalty, though the Provincial Government can suspend this section in specific areas if it chooses.

Section 6 lets the Provincial Government make rules to protect fish in particular waters (other than private waters, unless the private owner consents). These rules can prohibit or regulate the erection and use of fixed engines like nets, cages or traps fixed in place, the construction of weirs, and the size and type of nets used, and can even ban all fishing in a specified water for up to two years. Breaching such a rule can be made punishable by a fine up to one hundred rupees, plus a further fine up to ten rupees per day for a continuing breach, and the rules can also provide for seizing and forfeiting illegal fishing gear and any fish caught with it.

Section 7 lets a police officer, or another person specially empowered by the Provincial Government, arrest without a warrant anyone committing an offence under sections 4, 5 or the section 6 rules if their name and address are unknown or doubtful, though such a person cannot be held longer than needed to bring them before a Magistrate. Given this Act is well over a century old, its rupee-based fines are clearly outdated, and its practical effect today depends on newer fisheries laws (like provincial fisheries acts) that operate alongside it.