There are multiple new measures, which will need to be met by 16th December, through changes to fishing gear and/or practices. The new measures include:
Minimum Conservation Reference Sizes (MCRS) for 3 species of flatfish - brill, lemon sole and turbot - in designated areas.
An increase of the MCRS for crawfish in all English waters, to protect juveniles by allowing them time to mature and reproduce, before being caught.
An increase in net size for flyseining, to allow smaller, juvenile fish to escape and have the opportunity to reproduce.
Restriction on vessel engine power for those using flyseining gear to target bottom-dwelling species (demersal), to reduce fishing pressure on these inshore fishing grounds.
Update fishing legislation into 'fishing licence conditions' to allow for quicker legislative updates. This can allow bass catch size to be limited in line with new scientific evidence, to reduce pressure on the species.
These new measures are an encouraging update, and should help to reduce pressure on vulnerable stocks, allowing for the sustainable harvest of these species. To read a summary of these new measures, click here, or view the full legislation here.
