Two byelaws have been approved and made by the Authority. In accordance with Defra’s byelaw making process the Authority must now advertise these byelaws and provide a consultation period before they can be signed by the Minister to bring them into force. A summary of the byelaws can be found below and copies of both Byelaws, with all necessary supplementary information, are attached to this e-mail. If you wish to respond, please see the instructions at the bottom of this e-mail. The consultation will close on 8th November 2019.
1. Byelaw 3 Cockle and Mussel Hand Gathering Permit 2019
The revised byelaw includes the following main changes from the current byelaw 3:
• The number of new permits issued each year from the waiting list is increased from 10 to 20.
• A cap of 150 permits in total.
• Changes to permit conditions will be possible without a requirement to remake the byelaw following stakeholder consultation.
• The provision for support worker permits is ended.
• Additional commercial areas are created.
• The time limit for permit renewal has been brought forward. Permits must now be renewed for the next permit period by 31 July in the year they expire.
• A penalty point system for permit suspensions.
• Provision for young people to join the waiting list from the age of 12.
2. Byelaw 4 Potting Permit 2019
The byelaw includes the following main changes to the regulation of fishing with pots:
• Permits for fishing from licensed vessels with a fee of £200 per year.
• Permits for fishing from unlicensed vessels or from the shore with a fee of £20 per year.
• Changes to permit conditions will be possible without a requirement to remake the byelaw following stakeholder consultation.
• Separate permits for crab and lobster, whelk, and nephrops.
• New gear marking requirements.
How to Comment
Any person who wishes to object to the confirmation of the byelaw must send a statement of their objection in writing to the Marine Conservation and Enforcement Team, Marine Management Organisation, P.O. Box 1275, Newcastle, NE99 5BN (or IFCAbyelaws@marinemanagement.org.uk), and the North Western IFCA at NWIFCA, 1 Preston Street, Carnforth, Lancashire, LA5 9BY (or office@nw-ifca.gov.uk) by 8th November 2019.