71.— (1) The Minister may by order prohibit the sale and offering for sale at any time during a prescribed period in any year (“annual period”) of any fish which—

(a) is of a species specified in the order, or

(b) is—

(i) caught by rod and line, and

(ii) of a species so specified.

(2) An order under this section may—

(a) apply throughout the State or in a particular area or in particular areas of the State and so specified, and

(b) specify a particular annual period in relation to the whole of the State or specify different such periods in relation to different such areas.

(3) An order under this section shall apply to any fish—

(a) in case the order is made under subsection (1)(a), of the species specified in the order, and

(b) in case the order is made under subsection (1)(b), caught by rod and line and of a species specified in the order.

(4) In case an order under this section is for the time being in force, a person shall not sell or offer for sale any fish to which the order applies—

(a) in case the order applies throughout the State or to a particular area or to particular areas of the State and specifies only one annual period, at any place in either the State, such area or any such area, as may be appropriate, at any time during that period, and

(b) in case the order specifies different annual periods in relation to different areas of the State, at any place in such an area at any time during the annual period so specified in relation to the area.

(5) A person who contravenes subsection (4) commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine (not exceeding in all €2,500) of an amount not exceeding €2,000 together with an amount not exceeding €250 for each salmon and €50 for each other fish in respect of which the offence is committed.