Seabed law

UK shellfishing is subject to stringent EU regulations, which can restrict the size of target species and where they’re caught. There is increasing support for creating marine conservation zones, such as the ‘no take’ reserve around 3.3sq km (1.27sq miles) of Lundy Island, the first marine conservation zone, created in 2010. A further 26 have followed, with calls for more. Legislation including the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive as well as initiatives such as Natura 2000 all affect shellfishing in the UK.