Powers of Authorized Officers and Inspectors

(1) For the purpose of enforcing this Act, any Authorized Officer or Inspector may– (a) stop, board, remain on board and search any vessel which operates in the high seas which he reasonably believes is a fishing vessel which is registered under the Belize flag, and stop and search any such vessel he reasonably believes may be transporting fish or engaging in any activity relating to fishing; (b) require the master or any crew member or other person aboard to inform him of the name, call sign and the name(s) of the master, owner, charterer and crew members; (c) examine the master or any crew member or other person aboard about the cargo, contents of hold and storage spaces, voyage and activities of the vessel; (d) make such examination and inquiry as may appear necessary to him concerning any vessel in relation to which any of the powers conferred by this section have been or may be exercised and take samples of any of fish products found on board; (e) require to be produced, examine and take copies of any license, logbook, record of other document required under this Act or concerning the operation of any vessel; (f) make an entry dated and signed by him in the logbook of such vessel; (g) require to be produced and examine any fish, fishing gear or appliance or explosive, poison or other noxious substance; 40 (h) give direction to the master and any crew member of any vessel stopped, boarded or searched as may be necessary or reasonably expedient for any purpose specified in this Act or to provide for the compliance of the vessel or master or any crew member with conditions of any license; (i) endorse the validity and authenticity of any (2) Where an Authorized Officer or Inspector has reasonable grounds to believe that an offense against this Act is being or has been committed by a Belize flagged vessel, he may without warrant– (a) enter, inspect and search any premises, other than premises used exclusively as a dwelling house, in which he has reasonable grounds to believe that an offence has been or is being committed or fish taken illegally are being stored; (b) stop, enter and search and stay in or on any vessel or vehicle which he reasonably suspects of transporting fish or fish products; (c) take samples of any fish found in any vessel inspected or any premises searched under this Act; (d) seize– (i) any vessel (including its fishing gear, equipment, stores and cargo), nets or any other fishing appliances which he has reasonable grounds to believe has been or is being used in the commission of such offence or in High Seas Fishing 41 respect of which the offenses have been committed; (ii) any fish or fish products he has reasonable grounds to believe have been caught in the commission of an or are possessed in contravention of this Act; (iii) any logs, charts or other documents required to be maintained by this Act or under the terms of any license or other authorizations or which he has reasonable grounds to believe, show or tend to show, with or without other evidence, the commission of an offence against this Act; and (iv) anything which he has reasonable grounds to believe might be used as evidence in any proceedings under this Act; (3) A written receipt shall be given for any article or thing seized under this section and the grounds for such seizure shall be stated in such receipt. (4) No Authorized Officer who does any act under this Act, or omits to do any act required by this Act, shall be under any civil or criminal liability as a result of that act or omission on the grounds of want of jurisdiction or mistake of law or fact, or any other ground, unless he has acted or omitted to act. in bad faith. (5) An Authorized Officer or Inspector may, for the purpose of enforcing this Act, with or without a warrant or other process42 (a) execute any warrant or other process issued by any court of competent jurisdiction; and (b) exercise any other lawful authority.