The Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017

Designation of shellfish waters

9.—(1) The Department may designate an area of coastal or transitional water within the river basin district and the part of each international river basin district falling within Northern Ireland, as a shellfish water protected area by including it in the relevant list.

(2) An area may not be included in the relevant list unless the Department considers it necessary or desirable to do so for the protection or development of economically significant shellfish production.

(3) In relation to a shellfish water protected area in a river basin district which is wholly in Northern Ireland, the relevant list is the list entitled Shellfish Waters (Northern Ireland) 2017 and dated 27th April 2017.

(4) In relation to a shellfish water protected area in the part of each international river basin district falling within Northern Ireland, the relevant list is the list entitled Shellfish Waters (Northern Ireland – International River Basin District) 2017 and dated 27th April 2017.

(5) The Department must periodically review and, where appropriate, revise designations made in accordance with paragraph (1).

(6) A review and any revision must be done—

(a) by 22nd December 2021; and

(b) subsequently, by 22nd December of the sixth year following that date and of each sixth year following that.

(7) The Department must—

(a) publish the relevant list on its website; and

(b) make the relevant list available to the public at its principal offices.