Section 4: Grounds for issue of a licence, etc.

(1) On being satisfied that-
(a)
an application for a licence has been made in the prescribed manner and contains all the information that is required under section 3 of this Act;
(b) the prescribed fees have been paid;
(c) the applicant is the lawful owner of the motor fishing boat in respect of which the application is made, and that he is a fit and proper person to be granted a licence: and
(d)
the operation of the motor fishing boat in the territorial waters of Nigeria or its exclusive economic zone is not likely to be prejudicial to the interests of sea fishing industry in Nigeria,
the licensing officer shall issue a licence in respect of the motor fishing boat.
(2)
Subject to the provisions of this Act, a licence shall be in the prescribed form and may be issued subject to such conditions as the licensing officer may think fit to impose, and any conditions so imposed shall be endorsed on the licence.
(3) A licence shall be a yearly licence or a quarterly licence, and-
(a) if the licence is a yearly licence, it shall expire on 31st December in the year in which it is issued;
(b) if the licence is a quarterly licence, it shall expire on the 31 st March, the 30th June, 30th September, or 31st December, whichever day falls next after the date of the issue- of the licence.
(4)
Where the ownership of a motor fishing boat in respect of which a licence has been issued is transferred from one person to another person, the licence shall not be valid in respect of the new owner of the vessel until such time as a licensing officer has approved the transfer of the ownership of the motor fishing boat and has endorsed the licence to that effect.
(5) A licensing officer may without assigning any reason-
(a) cancel a licence; or
(b) suspend a licence for such period as he thinks fit.