FISHERY NOTICES

1. Three Rivers Cockle Fishery

Please refer to Three Rivers Cockle page for fishery details

2. Mussel Fishery Closure

BYELAW 24 - TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF SHELLFISH FISHERIES

The mussel beds in the Loughor Estuary, lying to the north of the course of the River Loughor and east of a line passing through the slipway at Machynys (51.66 deg N; 4.16 deg W), will be closed to fishing from 1 December 2009 until 1 April 2010.

PROVIDED THAT: mussel fishing in the above area may continue where mussels are gathered by finger and thumb only and involving no instruments (eg. Rakes and riddles) in the process.

3. Whelk Fishery Seasonal closure

BYELAW 24 – TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF SHELLFISH FISHERIES

The fishing for, removing, taking or disturbing of any whelk from within the South Wales Sea Fisheries District to the east of St Govans Head (510 36’N 040 55’W), excluding sea areas off the North Pembrokeshire coast, is prohibited between the period 19th December 2009 and 31st January 2010 inclusive.

4.Statutory  prohibition in the use of dredge fishing gear - South Hook - Milford Haven
The attached CCW map shows an area containing sensitive marine habitat (maerl and sea grass) in the Milford Haven where the fishing  for bivalve molluscs using dredges has been prohibited under Byelaw 40.  Persons dredge fishing using a vessel under permit have already been informed of this closure as a condition of their permit.

Click here for map in pdf format

5. District mussel size to be 45mm
Notice is hereby given, that the South Wales Sea Fisheries Committee, at its Molluscan Working Group which took place on Friday 28 November 2008, resolved that for the purposes of byelaw 13, the minimum size applying to Mussel throughout the whole of its District shall be 45mm until further notice. This Notice shall be taken as the instrument granting the authority envisaged by the byelaw 13 under paragraph (b) to any person fishing for mussels.

BYELAW 24 : RESTRICTION OF FISHING FOR COCKLES

6. Pembroke River
The fishing for, or taking of cockles in that area of Pembroke River in the Pennar Gut lying due south of a line drawn across the mouth from Pennar Point, will be temporarily prohibited from the date of this Notice until 31st March 2006. After this date fishing shall be in accordance with that shown in (i) below and as further advised in Notices displayed in the vicinity.
As only a small amount of cockle is present which lie in deep mud, access is not recommended.
IMPORTANT FURTHER INFORMATION
i : Further Statutory Fisheries Management Notices
ii : HSE Guidelines for safe working - HSE / Joint Agency Press Notice and links to other important Agency rules / advice

By Order of the Committee
P J COATES, Director
23rd Dec 2009
South Wales Sea Fisheries Committee, Riverside Centre, Pipehouse Wharf, Morfa Road, Swansea. SA1 2EN
Tel: (01792) 654466 : swsfc@aol.com