Public Notice: Southern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority – Marine & Coastal Access Act 2009

Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the above Regulation, Southern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority intends to apply to the Minister for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for the confirmation of the following byelaws:

Shore Gathering Byelaw

The proposed Byelaw introduces feature-based spatial management for shore gathering activities in National Site Network Sites to ensure protection of designated features & supporting habitats. Key provisions are the creation of defined prohibited areas, summer closure areas and winter closure areas, within which shore gathering activities, persons having hand operated equipment connected to shore gathering activities and the deployment of habitat to aid crab collection will be prohibited. There are exceptions to the prohibitions which include the use of a vessel provided no part of the vessel’s hull is in contact with the seabed and specified hand operated equipment.

Fishing for Cockles (Amendment) Byelaw

The proposed Byelaw amends the Southern IFCA Fishing for Cockles Byelaw to remove provisions relating to prescribed methods of harvesting, equipment specifications for hand picking of cockles and construction/operation of a dredge in relation to fishing for cockles. The Amendment is required due to provisions contained in the proposed Shore Gathering Byelaw and existing dredging provisions contained in Southern IFCA permit byelaws. The Byelaw maintains existing provisions relating to Minimum Conservation Reference Size for cockles and a closed season, applicable to all harvesting methods except use of a dredge in Poole Harbour.

A full text of the above byelaws, the associated Impact Assessment and supporting documents can be viewed on the Authority’s website at www.southern-ifca.gov.uk. Alternatively inspected at, or obtained from Southern IFCA, Unit 3, Holes Bay Park, Sterte Avenue West, Poole, Dorset BH15 2AA.

Any person wishing to object to the confirmation of the above byelaws must send a statement of objection in writing to:

Marine Conservation and Enforcement Team, Marine Management Organisation, Lancaster House, Hampshire Court, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE4 7YH (or IFCAbyelaws@marinemanagement.org.uk) within 28 days of the publication of this notice and must send a copy of this statement to the CEO at Southern IFCA, Unit 3, Holes Bay Park, Sterte Avenue West, Poole, Dorset BH15 2AA (or enquiries@southern-ifca.gov.uk).

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