Fisheries Byelaws (Northern Ireland) 2003

PART XIIRESTRICTIONS ON THE DIMENSIONS OF DRAFT NETS AND DRIFT NETS AND ON THE USE OF BOATS FOR DRIFT NETTING

59.  A person shall not use for fishing a draft net or a tidal draft net of greater length than 120 metres as measured along the head rope of the net.

60.  A person shall not use for the taking of salmon in the sea any drift net containing more than 45 full meshes measured vertically between the top rope and the bottom rope of the net.

61.  A person shall not use for the taking of salmon in the sea any drift net of greater length than 1,375 metres or any number of drift nets joined together in such a way that their total length is greater than 1,375 metres.

62.  A person shall not have on board any boat used for fishing for salmon in the sea –

(a)any drift net of greater length than 1,375 metres;

(b)any number of drift nets joined together in such a way that their total length is greater than 1,375 metres;

(c)any number of drift nets which, if they were joined together, would have a total length greater than 1,375 metres;

(d)any drift net or part thereof containing more than 45 full meshes measured vertically between the top rope and the bottom rope of the net.

63.—(1) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (2) a boat shall not be used for drift netting unless it is a fishing vessel registered under the Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Regulations 1993(1) and having a port of choice (within the meaning of those Regulations) in Northern Ireland.

(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to a boat used by a fisherman resident outside Northern Ireland who has held a drift net licence in any one of the 3 calendar years immediately preceding the date of application for a drift net licence to be issued in accordance with these Byelaws.

(3) A boat used for drift netting shall not exceed 12.2 metres in length, such length to be measured from the foreside of the foremost fixed permanent structure to the aftmost part of the stern or transom.