WESTERN WATERS CRAB EFFORT LIMITS SET

Western Waters crab effort limits set. The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has revealed that days at sea limits will be set for vessels catching edible and spider crabs operating in the Western Waters ICES area VII for the full 2019 year.

This will be enforced via a licence variation. The limits will be applicable to all over 15 metre vessels with a shellfish entitlement operating in area VII and targeting crabs under the Western Waters regime.

The MMO will actively monitor days at sea uptake by vessels and review discussions will take place later in 2019 to evaluate uptake to date and discuss the management approach for the remainder of 2019.

If the UK looks like it will exceed effort limits prior to 31 December 2019 as set by the Commission, then fisheries administrations will be required to close the area VII crab fishery to over 15 metre vessels for the remainder of the year in line with the Western Waters regime.

Full details of the effort limits at: https://tinyurl.com/y5pfzekx