Statutory guidance

Variation issued: Wednesday 01 November 2023

Updated 26 April 2024

1. The variation effective from 00:01hrs Wednesday 01 November 2023 is as follows:  

PLEASE NOTE: The licence condition ‘New catch limit for Sole when fishing with dredges in 7e’ has been removed from the 1 November 2023 licence variation. This will not be enforced and there are no requirements to oblige by this condition at this time. Any questions please email FishingVesselLicensing@marinemanagement.org.uk

1.1 Lyme Bay – Visibility of Fixed Gear Condition Inserted

• Affecting all licence categories in licence schedules

1.2 Over 10m Schedules: LYME BAY

20.1) The following shall be relevant for the Lyme Bay area (ICES rectangles 30E6 and 30E7 between Brixham and Portland Bill).

20.2) The master or their representative must ensure that two end markers (markers include buoys, flags or dahns) are fixed to each passive gear used for fishing and are deployed in accordance with the provisions of this Section.

a) Each marker must display the external registration letters and numbers displayed on the hull of the fishing vessel to which they belong to.

b) Markers must be in a colour contrasting with the surface on which they are displayed; and

c) the letters and numbers displayed shall not be removed, altered or allowed to become illegible.

d) Markers shall be deployed so that each end of the gear may be determined at any time as follows:

e) the marker in the western sector (meaning the half compass circle from south through west to and including north) must display either the letter W or two striped luminous bands.

f) the marker in the eastern sector (meaning the half compass circle from north through east to and including the south) must display either the letter E one striped luminous band.

g) striped luminous bands shall be neither red nor green and must be at least six centimetres broad.

1.3 10m and Under Schedules: LYME BAY

14.1) The following shall be relevant for the Lyme Bay area (ICES rectangles 30E6 and 30E7 between Brixham and Portland Bill).

14.2) The master or their representative must ensure that two end markers (markers include buoys, flags or dahns) are fixed to each passive gear used for fishing and are deployed in accordance with the provisions of this Section.

a) Each marker must display the external registration letters and numbers displayed on the hull of the fishing vessel to which they belong to.

b) Markers must be in a colour contrasting with the surface on which they are displayed; and

c) the letters and numbers displayed shall not be removed, altered or allowed to become illegible.

d) Markers shall be deployed so that each end of the gear may be determined at any time as follows:

e) the marker in the western sector (meaning the half compass circle from south through west to and including north) must display either the letter W or two striped luminous bands.

f) the marker in the eastern sector (meaning the half compass circle from north through east to and including the south) must display either the letter E one striped luminous band.

g) striped luminous bands shall be neither red nor green and must be at least six centimetres broad.

2. Quota Decrease

• Affecting all ‘10m and Under’ and ‘Over 10m’ Licence Categories both Non-Sector and Sector

SPECIES	SEA AREA (AS STATED IN ANNEXE)	QUOTA SET FROM (TONNES)	QUOTA  SET TO (TONNES)
Small-eyed Ray	VIIf&g	0.25	0.15

It is your responsibility to check variations before going to sea as they can be changed at any time.      

If you have any queries, please contact the Fisheries Management Team.