BAIT CLAMPDOWN

Have your say on plans to limit what you can take

Have your say on plan for restrictions.

Anglers have until March 9 to give their views on potential legislation to limit the amount of bait collected by individuals in parts of the South West. While commercial bait collectors will be able to apply for a permit, the proposed scheme will also impact those who want to find their own bait.

The formal proposal has been put out to consultation by Devon & Severn Inshore Fisheries & Conservation Authority (D&S IFCA), which manages the exploitation of sea fisheries resources within its district, and responses must be submitted by March 9.

Its findings on the bag limit consultation will be discussed at its By-law and Permitting Sub-Committee in May. It is expected a completed draft Hand Working Permit By-law would be completed by July and then put out for a six-week consultation. The by-law would need confirmation by Defra before coming into force.

Although this move affects the Devon and Severn region, it has the potential to be rolled out to other IFCA areas throughout the country.

D&S IFCA is inviting all stakeholders to respond, even if they don’t take part in any of the hand-working collection of worms and shellfish. The consultation consists of five questions.

Hand-working activity includes the use of crab traps, bait digging and a range of hand-gathering methods, such as bait pumping, collecting shellfish, hand-netting prawns, salting for razor shells and drop-netting.

The consultation document says: “The new Hand Working Permit By-law will take time to develop, and information, such as the findings of this exercise, will help inform the decision making and the drafting of the by-law.”

The move will apply to the whole Devon and Severn district and is meant to enable D&S IFCA to manage hand-working fishing methods in a new way.

According to the consulation: “The needs of commercial fishers and recreational fishers are different, and this will be reflected in the restrictions that will apply.”

The by-law will enable D&S IFCA to issue permits to commercial bait collectors, but the criteria needed to gain a permit have not been decided. The permit would determine catch, gear used, location and time restrictions appropriate to commercial activity.

Recreational fishers won’t need a permit, but there will be rules set out in the by-law. Closed areas and sites will protect features, such as seagrass, while a series of catch limits for hand-working will be introduced.

The proposed bag limits for recreational anglers are open to consultation, but suggestions include 1kg of mussels per calendar day, 15 razor clams, 1kg of prawns/ shrimps, 40 shore crabs, and 100 worms.

You can give your response at www. devonandsevernifca.gov.uk/Consultation