Fisheries Byelaws (Northern Ireland) 1997

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Byelaws.)

These Byelaws revoke and replace with amendments the Fisheries Consolidated and Amendment Byelaws (Northern Ireland) 1989.

The principal changes are as follows:—

1.  Byelaw 31 and Schedule 2 removes from the list of waters on which a coarse fishing rod licence is valid Craigavon City Park Lakes North Lake, Co. Armagh and Martray Lough, Co. Tyrone and adds to that list Duncan’s Dam, the unnamed lake known as Willis’s Lake, off the Upper Malone Road, Belfast, the Waterworks Reservoir and Victoria Park Lake all in Co. Antrim, that part of the Lower River Bann between Kilrea and Claragh Townlands about 350 metres downstream of Kilrea Bridge to Movanagher Weir Co. Antrim and Co. Londonderry and Lough Ballyherley, Ballymartin, Glastry and Heron Lakes, Lough Mann, McAuley's, Montgomery's, Pollramer and Tullynagee Lakes all in Co. Down, Craigavon City Park Lakes South Lake in Co. Armagh and Ballynakilly Lake and Lough Macronan both in Co. Tyrone.

2.  Byelaw 40 introduces a minimum mesh size of 27 mm from knot to knot or 108 mm to be measured all round each mesh for single wall set nets and trammel nets for the taking of salmon or freshwater fish on the waters of Lough Neagh.

3.  Byelaw 48 provides that, in relation to the use of nets in Upper and Lower Lough Erne, the minimum mesh sizes for single wall set nets or trammel nets applies to the taking of coarse fish, except pollen.

4.  Byelaw 50 increases the maximum length of boats permitted to be used for commercial fishing on Upper and Lower Lough Erne from 5.5 metres to 6.1 metres and their beam measurement from 1.70 metres to 2.2 metres.

5.  Byelaw 63(b) extends the restriction on the use of any net for salmon fishing in tidal waters. It is now prohibited to use any net for the taking of salmon within the area of Strangford Lough north west of an imaginary line drawn from Ballyquintin Point to Killard Point.

6.  Byelaw 70 prohibits the use of live fish as bait whilst angling in fresh water.

7.  Byelaw 76 and Schedule 4 removes Craigavon City Park Lakes South Lake, Co. Armagh from the list of waters in which there is no close season for angling for rainbow trout and adds to the list Raloo Fishery, Springwater Meadow Lakes 1 and 2 and Turnagrove Fishery all in Co. Antrim, Craigavon City Park Lakes North Lake and Lisanoe Lake, both in Co. Armagh; Altnadue Lough, Ballygrangee Fishery, Loughs Cowey and Creevy, Drumlough; Gilford Fishery, Gills and Hoggs Loughs, both in Tullywest, Lower Ballysallagh Reservoir, Movilla Lake and Waterfall Lodge Trout Fishery, all in Co. Down; Annaginny Stillwater Trout Fishery and Martray Lough both in Co. Tyrone; Ballylagan Lake, Loughlinsholin Put and Take Fishery, and Washing Lough of Manor Golf and Fishing Club, all in Co. Londonderry.

8.  Byelaw 80 provides that in relation to commercial fishing on Lough Neagh that the annual close season applies to any coarse fish except pollen and the weekend close season applies to any coarse fish. Under section 105 of the Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1966 the annual close season for pollen in any locality is from 1st November to 31st January in each year, both dates inclusive.

9.  Byelaw 81 provides that the annual close season for the taking of coarse fish except pollen on Upper and Lower Lough Erne by means of single wall nets, trammel nets or draft nets is the period from 17th March to 17th December in each year, both dates inclusive.

10.  Byelaw 82 extends the prohibition on taking any undersized pike or perch on any waters under the jurisdiction of the Fisheries Conservancy Board for Northern Ireland. It is now prohibited to take any such fish by any means other than rod and line or hand line.