First FMP measures set to become law
30th October 2024
Restrictions on fly-seiners and new minimum landing sizes to come into force in December
Legislation implementing a range of management measures set out in the first published Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) was introduced to parliament on 16 October.
Subject to parliamentary scrutiny, they are expected to become law on 16 December. The new legislation includes:
- The introduction of minimum conservation reference sizes (MCRS) for lemon sole (250mm), turbot (300mm) and brill (300mm) in the English waters of ICES areas VIId and VIIe
• An increase to the existing MCRS for crawfish in all English waters to 110mm
• A requirement that all flyseining vessels use a 100mm mesh as standard in the English waters of ICES areas VIId and VIIe
• A 221kW limit on the engine power of vessels using flyseining gear in the English waters of areas VIId and VIIe
• Removal of the UK-EU annually negotiated catch limits for commercially caught bass from secondary legislation so that they can be updated through fishing licence conditions, allowing more responsive management in line with evolving evidence.
Any changes to fishing gear and/or practices to comply with these new measures will need to be made by 16 December.
This story was taken from the latest issue of Fishing News. For more up-to-date and in-depth reports on the UK and Irish commercial fishing sector, subscribe to Fishing News here or buy the latest single issue for just £3.50 here.
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