(a) The Commissioner shall prescribe all rules and regulations necessary or desirable for carrying out the duties, obligations, powers and responsibilities conferred upon him under this chapter, which, after being approved in accordance with chapter 25 of Title 3 of the Code and published as required in subsection (c) of this section shall have the force and effect of law.
(b) Such rules and regulations shall include but not be limited to: establishing closed seasons; regulating the size or quantity limits for any species of fish or marine plants; regulating the mesh sizes or openings or designs of traps, pots, nets, seines and other devices for fishing; regulating and prohibiting fishing for such times as he may deem it necessary to protect and preserve marine and aquatic resources and to prevent the catching of fish in polluted areas; preparing blank forms for licensing and registration pursuant to this chapter; requiring registration for the use or possession of any apparatus or device used in fishing; denying or prohibiting the use of any type of apparatus, device or method of fishing, when, in his judgment, such apparatus, device or method or the location of its use is detrimental to fishing, wildlife conservation or other legitimate interests.
(c) All rules and regulations shall be published at least once each week for two consecutive weeks in newspapers of general circulation on the Island of St. Croix and the Islands of St. Thomas and St. John, and shall take effect and be in force at the time specified therein. Such rules and regulations shall be admitted as evidence in the courts of the territory when accompanied by an affidavit from the Commissioner certifying that the rule and regulation has been lawfully adopted, promulgated and published, and such affidavit shall be prima facie evidence of proper adoption, promulgation and publication of the rule or regulation.
(d) Any person violating or otherwise failing to comply with any of the rules and regulations adopted as aforesaid shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be fined not more than $500.00 or imprisoned for not more than six months, unless otherwise provided by law.
(e) The Commissioner is authorized, from time to time in his discretion, to cause the statutory laws under his jurisdiction, together with any rules and regulations promulgated by him pursuant to this chapter, to be published in pamphlet form for free distribution in the territory. The Commissioner is also authorized to make charges for technical and educational publications and mimeographed material of use for educational or reference purposes in promoting the purposes of this chapter. Such charges may be sufficient to cover cost of preparation, printing, publishing and distribution. All moneys received for publications shall be deposited in the Fish and Game Fund created under chapter 1, section 81a of this title. The Commissioner is further authorized to enter into agreements with persons, firms, corporations, governmental agencies and other institutions whereby publications may be exchanged reciprocally in lieu of payments for said publications.