Fisheries Byelaws (Northern Ireland) 1997

Part X Takeable size and Sale of Trout and Pollen (Commercial Fishing and Angling)

51.  A person shall not in the freshwater portion of any river, or in any lake, to which section 25 of the Act applies—

(a) use a draft net under section 71(2) of the Act to take;

(b) have on board any boat on or from which such a net was used; or

(c) in the vicinity of such waters have in his possession,

a trout of a size less than 35.5 centimetres.

52.  For the purposes of section 51 of the Act “immature” in relation to trout means such fish of a size less than 35.5 centimetres.

53.  For the purposes of section 52 of the Act “undersized pollen” means pollen of a size less than 20.5 centimetres.

54.  Where any draft net is used in the course of any fishing operations conducted by means of a boat used for commercial fishing and any trout of a size less than 35.5 centimetres is taken on board, the master, owner, charterer or other person in charge of the boat shall, without avoidable injury, cause such trout to be returned immediately to the water from which it was taken.