Have your say on proposed shellfish permit byelaw

Published Friday, 22nd September 2023

A Hartlepool councillor is raising awareness of a new byelaw proposed by the North East Inshore Fisheries Conservation Authority (NEIFCA) and urging local people to have their say by taking part in a consultation.

Councillor Rachel Creevy who represents Hartlepool Borough Council on NEIFCA, says it is important that as many people as possible comment on the proposed Byelaw XXVIII Shellfish Permit Byelaw 2022 before the consultation ends on 17th October.

And to enable people to make their views known, a local drop-in session is to be held in Constables Bar at Hartlepool Borough Hall from 2-6pm on Thursday 5th October.

However, anyone who is unable to attend can still engage with the consultation and get more information about the proposed byelaw at https://www.ne-ifca.gov.uk/Press-Releases/north-eastern-ifca-byelaw-consultation

The proposed byelaw sets out new provisions for the management and conservation of crab and lobster stocks throughout the area covered by NEIFCA. As well as including all existing stock management measures, it also provides for a number of new measures.

These include:

  • An extension to the number of species covered by the byelaw to include nephrops (prawns), European green (shore) crab, mussels, winkles, razor clams, scallops and surf clams.
  • A charge for the issue of recreational permits of £10 per annum. No charge is currently levied.
  • A reduction in the number of permitted recreational pots from 10 to 5.
  • An exemption from the requirement to hold a permit for recreational “catch and release” fisheries where shellfish are caught by hand, baited line or drop net and returned to the sea.
  • A cap on the number of commercial pots of up to 1000 per vessel.
  • A new charge for the issue of commercial permits linked to the number of pots worked, up to a maximum of £350 per year.

Councillor Creevy said: “It is really important that people potentially affected by this new byelaw, including many local hobby fishermen and women, have their say before the consultation ends.

“The drop-in event at the Borough Hall is a great opportunity for them to have their say, but it isn’t the only way to make their views known. I would urge anyone who is unable to attend the drop-in session to engage with the consultation online.”