Section 23. Exemptions.

(1) Nothing contained in this Act shall apply to 1[survey vessels, training vessels or patrolling vessels] belonging to the Central Government or any State Government or any Public Undertakings. (2) If the State Government is of the opinion that, having regard to the purposes of this Act, it would not be in the public interest to apply all or any of the provisions of this Act, to any class or classes of fishing vessels used for fishing in any specified area or specified areas, it may by notification in the Official Gazette, exempt, subject to such conditions as it may think fit to impose, such class or classes of fishing vessels used or fishing in such specified area or specified areas, and for such period or periods, as it may specify in the notification, from the operation of all or any of the provisions of this Act.