Tony Codling FYI,
if you do not hold a fishing licence (DEFRA) and or a NESFC permit you are allowed to fish a maximum of 10 pots (in any combination (2x5 pots or 1x10 pots or even 5x2 pots) but the maximum is 10 pots. You may also use up to a maximum of 100m of net (measured along the headline) as long as the meshes comply with EU and any local regulations (although the latter is not particularly in the spirit of angling). The maximum allowable catch per day is 2 lobsters, 10 brown/edible crab and 30 whelks, which must be landed the same day they were caught, the use of a keep-pot is illegal if not a registered fisherman. There is no regulation within the NESFC to prohibit the landing of berried lobsters at the present moment, however, DEFRA are currently investigating a national ban on the landing of such (against significant opposition from many areas of the UK I might add). V-notched lobsters may not be landed, this also includes lobsters that have the tail fan damaged or mutilated (this carries a fine of around £5k).
Terry;
Do I interpret your response correctly in that the RNLI bosun is setting his pots from the shore and not from a boat, if so, I need to take this back to the NESFC because unless I\'m wrong, all the current byelaws relate to vessel set gears and not shore set (with the exception of fixed engines (Gill nets)). It is possible that he is actually not breaking any byelaws or regulations and taking advantage of a loophole that should be tightened. Can you confirm whether this is the case?
I\'ll have a word with the CFO and see if there is an electronic version of the NESFC byelaws that can be put up on this site and others in the NE for anglers to be aware of.
Cheers for now
Doc
[Edited on 9/1/2006 by Doc]
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If it doesn't bite its not worth catching!!!
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