9Functions of the Authority

(1) It shall be the duty of the Authority to promote, by such measures as it thinks fit, the development under the control of the Central Government of the marine products industry with special reference to exports.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the provisions of sub-section (1), the measures referred to therein may provide for--

(a) developing and regulating off-shore and deep-sea fishing and undertaking measures for the conservation and management of off-shore and deep-sea fisheries;

(b) registering fishing vessels, processing plants or storage premises for marine products and conveyances used for the transport of marine products;

(c) fixing of standards and specifications for marine products for purposes of export;

(d) rendering of financial or other assistance to owners of fishing vessels engaged in off-shore and deep-sea fishing and owners of processing plants or storage premises for marine products and conveyances used for the transport of marine products, and acting as an agency for such relief and subsidy schemes as may be entrusted to the Authority;

(e) carrying out inspection of marine products in any fishing vessel, processing plant, storage premises, conveyance or other place where such products are kept or handled, for the purpose of ensuring the quality of such products;

(f) regulating the export of marine products;

(g) improving the marketing of marine products outside India;

(h) registering of exporters of marine products on payment of such fees as may be prescribed;

(i) collecting statistics from persons engaged in the catching of fish or other marine products, owners of processing plants or storage premises for marine products or conveyances used for the transport of marine products, exporters of such products and such other persons as may be prescribed on any matter relating to the marine products industry and the publishing of statistics so collected, or portions thereof or extracts therefrom;

(j) training in various aspects of the marine products industry; and

(k) such other matters as may be prescribed.

(3) The Authority shall perform its functions under this section in accordance with and subject to such rules as may be made by the Central Government.