SOUTHERN IFCA CONSULTS ON NET FISHING BYELAW

Southern IFCA consults on net fishing byelaw. The UK’s Southern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority has opened a period of formal consultation for its Net Fishing Byelaw.  Any responses must be received no later than the 4^th February 2022.

Southern IFCA is responsible for fishing activities surrounding Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. The purpose of the Net Fishing Byelaw is to manage fishing with nets for sea fisheries resources in the Southern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation District in line with the Authority’s duties under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, The Conservation of Habitats and Species (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 and The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

The byelaw introduces Net Prohibition Areas, Net Restriction Areas and Net Permit Areas. Net fishing will be prohibited in Net Prohibition Areas. Net fishing within Net Restriction Areas will be subject to seasonal and/or gear restrictions and net fishing within Net Permit Areas will be managed under flexible permit conditions, subject to the review procedure set out in the byelaw.

The byelaw ensures that all nets used in the District must be marked at each end by a marker buoy that clearly identifies the vessel using that net. The byelaw details both ‘Exceptions’ and ‘Dispensations’ for certain lawful activities.

The management of the Net Permit Areas will be informed by a Net Fishing Monitoring and Control Plan to ensure that the Authority is using the best available to ensure that the ongoing management of the District’s net fisheries remain compatible with the Conservation Objectives set (specific to Altantic salmon, Salmo salar ) for relevant SACs and where Atlantic salmon and/or sea trout ( Salmo trutta ) are a notified feature or component of a SSSI.

For details of the full byelaw, supporting documents and how to respond to the consultation please see the LIVE Consultations page.  The consultation closes on  3^rd  February 2022.