Have your say on Celtic nephrops proposals
The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has launched a consultation on proposals for new technical measures affecting Nephrops-directed fisheries in Celtic Sea UK waters of the Celtic Sea.
The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has today launched a consultation on proposals for new technical measures affecting Nephrops-directed fisheries in Celtic Sea UK waters of the Celtic Sea.
Defra is seeking views on:
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Limiting the selectivity device options to include only the most selective devices for Nephrops. These include the Seltra Panel and Sorting Grid, as per current gear options, as well as two new options under consideration; the Netgrid selectivity device and SepNep (both as legislated in the North Sea).
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Prohibiting the use and carriage of strengthening bags. This measure will be applied to otter trawl and bottom seine vessels in the Celtic Sea from 5 September 2021 and it is ; we are proposeding to extend this measureapply the ban to Nephrops-directed fisheries later in the year.
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Increasing the catch composition threshold, which defines a Nephrops-directed fishery in the Celtic Sea, from 5% to either 15 or 30%.
For more information on the proposed changes and to share your views on the management of Nephrops-directed fisheries in UK waters of the Celtic Sea, follow the link to the consultation survey on Citizen Space
Alternatively, you can contact Defra at Nephrops.consultation@defra.gov.uk
The deadline for responses is 13 August 2021.