The formal consultation period closed on 27 October 2023 in relation to the following byelaws.
Sections 155 & 156 Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009
Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the above Regulation, North Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority intends to apply to the Minister for the Department for Environment Food and Rural affairs for confirmation of the following Byelaws:
BYELAW XXIX Humber Estuary Fishing Byelaw 2022
This proposed byelaw maintains existing provisions for the management of trawling activities within the Humber Estuary and includes a revision to the boundaries of the ‘Spurn Point Sea Grass Area’ to ensure the continued protection of sensitive marine habitat, from potentially damaging activities, within that designated area.
BYELAW XXVIII Shellfish Permit Byelaw 2022
This proposed byelaw sets out new provisions for the management and conservation of crab and lobster stocks throughout the Authority’s district. As well as including all existing current management measures in force, designed to protect lobster and crab stocks within the NEIFCA district, the new byelaw regulation also provides for a number of new measures to be applied and varied, as mandatory conditions to the permit issued. Two types of permits will be offered, Category 1 (commercial) and Category 2 (recreational). The byelaw also sets out a new charging regime for both permit types. Key provisions within the proposed byelaw include the following:
- An extension to the number of species covered by the byelaw to include nephrops (prawns), European green (shore) crab, mussel, winkle, razer clam, scallop and surf clam.
- A cap on the maximum number of commercial pots permitted to be worked within the Authority’s district of up to 1000 per vessel.
- A cap on the number of commercial shellfish permits offered of 234 per annum, maintaining existing levels of activity.
- A new charge levied for the issue of commercial permits, index linked to the number of pots worked, up to a maximum of £350 per year.
- A reduction in the number of permitted recreational pots from 10 to 5.
- A new charge levied for the issue of recreational permits of £10 per annum.
- An exemption from the requirement to hold a permit for recreational ‘catch and release’ fisheries where shellfish are caught by hand, baited line or drop net and returned back to the sea.
In total, NEIFCA received 60 written submissions in response and 78 people attended and engaged in the ‘drop in’ session events held throughout the district, representing both commercial and recreational interests.
The summary outputs of the consultation process and associated considerations, including next steps, were reviewed at the NEIFCA Authority meeting held on 8 December 2023 and can be accessed via the following link:
Shellfish Permit Byelaw - Formal Consultation Summary
The draft byelaw proposals will now be submitted to the Marine Management Organisation for Quality Assurance alongside a recommendation that they be confirmed by Defra and the further development of an implementation plan.
