The following byelaw regulations are applicable throughout the Authority’s District. These regulations cover a wide range of activities from the collection and trapping of shellfish to the management of trawling and other activities.
Please note the that the Authority also has a number of Emergency Byelaws.
To view all current NEIFCA byelaws download the Byelaws Booklet:
Byelaws Booklet (pdf 233kb opens in a new window)
Byelaw Review Notice
A review of all byelaws, including legacy byelaws which were inherited from North Eastern Sea Fisheries Committee and currently apply within the NEIFCA District is underway to ensure that all regulations are relevant and harmonised wherever practicable. This process may lead to some byelaws being amended or revoked.
Summary of current regulations
I. Repeal Of Existing Byelaws
Clarifies the application of byelaws which have been repealed in that any penalty, forfeiture or punishment resulting from a repealed byelaw regulation is not affected by the repeal.
Download the I repeal of existing byelaws (pdf 326kb opens in a new window)
II. Application And Saving For Scientific Purposes
Provides authority for the Clerk to issue written dispensations to undertake scientific investigations, re-stocking or breeding initiatives.
Download the II application and saving for scientific purposes byelaw document (pdf 326kb opens in a new window)
III. Trawling: Prohibition: Exceptions
Regulates trawling activity throughout the Authority’s jurisdiction through a permitting scheme for all vessels under 18.3 m overall length and 400KW engine power. The byelaw also sets three extensive no trawl zones.
Download the III trawling: prohibition: exceptions byelaw (pdf 770kb opens in a new window)
IV. Seine Net, Draw Net Or ‘Snurrevaad’: Prohibition Of
Prohibits seine netting within three miles of the Authority’s jurisdiction.
Download the IV seine net, draw net or 'snurrevaad': prohibition of byelaw document (pdf 326kb opens in a new window)
V. Push Net
Requires any push nets used within the Authority’s jurisdiction to be raised and cleared once every half hour.
Download the V push net byelaw document (pdf 326kb opens in a new window)
VIII. Mussels: Minimum Size
Sets a minimum size of 51 mm for the removal of mussels from the Authority’s jurisdiction.
Download the VIII mussels: minimum size byelaw document (pdf 326kb opens in a new window)
X. Shellfish: Re-Deposit Of
Provides for the re-deposit of shellfish, which has been subject to a breach of regulations, as near as possible to the place from which it was taken.
Download the X shellfish: re-deposit of byelaw document (pdf 326kb opens in a new window)
XI. Shellfish Beds: Regulations Of
Provides a mechanism for the general closure of shellfish beds where stocks are depleted or where areas have been re-seeded.
Download the XI shellfish beds: regulations of byelaw document (pdf 326kb opens in a new window)
XII. Shrimp And Prawn Fishing
Requires any trawls targeting shrimps or prawns to be raised and cleared once every hour.
Download the XII shrimp and prawn fishing byelaw document (pdf 326kb opens in a new window)
XIV. Removal Of Parts Of Lobsters From Any Fishery: Prohibition Of
Prohibits the removal of tails and claws from lobsters caught within the Authority’s jurisdiction.
Download the XIV removal of parts of Lobsters from any fishery: prohibition of byelaw document (pdf 24kb opens in a new window)
XV. Application Of Byelaws
Clarifies the application of long-standing regulations which pre-dated the extension of the NESFC District from 3 to 6 nautical miles in 1992.
Download the XV application of byelaws byelaw document (pdf 235kb opens in a new window)
XVIII. Fixed Engine Byelaw
Sets criteria for the management of all fixed netting within the Authority’s jurisdiction including the depth of water nets are set, the headline clearance, the establishment of conservation areas and permit schemes relating to the intertidal and sub-tidal exploitation of sea bass along the Holderness coast of East Yorkshire.
Download the XVIII fixed engine byelaw document (pdf 2mb opens in a new window)
XIX. Parts Of A Crab
Prohibits the removal of legs and claws from edible crabs caught within the Authority’s jurisdiction and provides a 10% by-catch limit for claws and legs removed from crabs caught in fixed nets.
Download the XIX parts of a crab byelaw document (pdf 37kb opens in a new window)
XX. Prohibition On Use Of Crab (Cancer Pagurus) For Bait
Prohibits the use of edible crab as a bait source within the Authority’s jurisdiction but permits the use of cooked crab offal as bait.
Download the XX prohibition on use of crab (cancer pagurus) for bait byelaw document (pdf 30kb opens in a new window)
XXI. Protection Of ‘V’ Notched Lobsters
No person shall fish for, take, retain, store, carry, transport or land any ‘V’ notched lobster or mutilated lobster of the species Homarus gammarus.
Download the XXI protection of 'v' notched lobsters byelaw document (pdf 33.7kb opens in a new window)
XXII. Permit To Fish For Lobster, Crab, Velvet Crab And Whelk
Sets criteria for the management of all exploitation of lobster, crab, velvet crab and whelk within the Authority’s District. It establishes permit schemes and conditions for the commercial and recreational exploitation of shellfisheries, including the submission of monthly catch and effort return information.
Download the XXII permit to fish for lobster, crab, velvet crab and whelk byelaw document (pdf 114kb opens in a new window)
XXIII Method And Area Of Fishing (Dredges) Byelaw
Sets a range of provisions for the use of scallop dredges within the Authority’s jurisdiction including a closed season (July to September inclusive), maximum number of dredges (10 per vessel), dredge construction and a prohibited dredging zone within the three mile limit.
See Emergency Byelaw - Prohibition of use of dredges for fishing or any other purpose.
Download the XXIII method and area of fishing (dredges) byelaw document (pdf 696kb opens in a new window)
XXIV. Cockle Management Byelaw
Sets provisions for the management of cockle stocks occurring within the Authority's district, including a permit scheme, closed season, minimum cockle size, exploitation method and mechanisms to close individual beds or areas from exploitation.
Download the XXIV cockle management byelaw (pdf 2mb opens in a new window)
XXV. Prohibition On Removal Of Tope Or Parts Thereof
Prohibits the removal of tope or parts from any fishery within the Authority’s jurisdiction.
Download the XXV prohibition on removal of tope or parts thereof byelaw document (pdf 34kb opens in a new window)
XXVI. Flamborough Head Fishing Byelaw
Sets provisions for the management of trawling activity within the boundaries of the Flamborough Head European Marine Site including a permit scheme and no trawl zone.
Download the XXVI Flamborough Head fishing byelaw document (pdf 354kb opens in a new window)
XXVII. Flamborough Head No Take Zone
Designates a no take zone within the boundaries of the Flamborough Head European Marine Site between Sewerby Steps and Danes Dyke and 700m seaward from the cliff face.
Download the XXVII Flamborough Head no take zone byelaw document (pdf 1.32mb opens in a new window)
XXVIII. Crustacea Conservation Byelaw
Requires the mandatory installation of escape gaps in all pots and traps worked between Tyneside and Hartlepool, Teesside. The seaward limit of this regulation stretches three nautical miles from coastal baseline points.
Download the XXVIII crustacea conservation byelaw document (pdf 315kb opens in a new window)
Penalties
Any person convicted of a breach of any byelaw regulation could be subject to a maximum penalty of £50,000.
