(1) A foreign vessel shall not be used for fishing or related activities in the fishery waters without a valid foreign fishing licence issued under this section.
(2) An application for a foreign fishing licence shall be made, in the prescribed form, to the Minister or to a competent regional organisation authorised to issue fishing licences under section 6 (2)(a).
(3) Subject to the provisions of this Act and any regulations made under this Act, the Minister may issue a foreign fishing licence authorising a foreign fishing vessel to be used in the fishery waters for such fishing or related activities as may be specified in the licence.
(4) Subject to subsection (5), a foreign fishing licence shall not be issued to any foreign fishing vessel unless there is in force with the Government of the flag state of the vessel or with an association of which the owner or charterer is a member, an agreement entered into under section 7 to which the Government of Saint Lucia is a party.
(5) Subsection (4) shall not apply to a licence issued in respect of:
(a) test fishing operations; or
(b) a locally based foreign fishing vessel.
(6) Where a fishing vessel is used in contravention of subsection (1) or of any condition of the foreign fishing licence the master, owner and charterer of that vessel is each guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $500,000.