The Inshore Fishing (Prohibited Methods of Fishing) (Loch Creran) Order 2007

Citation and commencement

1.  This Order may be cited as the Inshore Fishing (Prohibited Methods of Fishing) (Loch Creran) Order 2007 and shall come into force on 29th March 2007.

Interpretation

2.  In this Order–

“creel” means a basket, small cage, pot, receptacle or container with one or more openings or entrances, which may be baited and is placed on the seabed for the purpose of catching shellfish and crustacea;

“Loch Creran” means upper Loch Creran and lower Loch Creran;

“lower Loch Creran” means the area of Scottish inshore waters lying to the east side of a straight line drawn between points AQ and AR and to the west side of a straight line drawn between points AJ and AK;

“permitted creeling area” means the area of upper Loch Creran lying within the polygon formed by joining with straight lines and in alphabetical order the points AL to AP and by a straight line from point AP to point AL;

“scallop dredge” means any appliance with a rigid framed mouth which is towed through the water and is manufactured, adapted, used or intended for use for the purpose of fishing for scallops;

“upper Loch Creran” means the area of Scottish inshore waters lying to the east side of a straight line drawn between points AJ and AK;

“Zone 1” means the area of lower Loch Creran lying within the polygon formed by joining with straight lines and in alphabetical order points A to D and by a straight line drawn between points D and A;

“Zone 2” means the area of lower Loch Creran lying within the polygon formed by joining with straight lines and in alphabetical order points E to H and by a straight line drawn between points H and E;

“Zone 3” means the area of lower Loch Creran bounded by the line defined by joining with straight lines and in alphabetical order points I to AI, by the low water mark of ordinary spring tides, and by a straight line drawn between points AJ and AK; and

points A to AR mean the points so identified in the Schedule.

Prohibited methods of fishing – Loch Creran

3.—(1) Fishing in Loch Creran by means of a scallop dredge is prohibited.

(2) Fishing in Loch Creran by vessels of over 10 metres overall length using a trawl is prohibited.

Additional prohibitions – Zones 1, 2 and 3

4.  Fishing by means of–

(a) a trawl; or

(b) a creel,

in Zones 1, 2 and 3 is prohibited.

Additional prohibitions – upper Loch Creran

5.—(1) Fishing by means of a trawl in upper Loch Creran is prohibited.

(2) Fishing by means of a creel in any part of upper Loch Creran other than the permitted creeling area is prohibited.

Exception for scientific investigation

6.  The prohibitions in articles 3 to 5 do not apply to any activity carried out by, or authorised by, the Scottish Ministers for the purpose of scientific investigation.

ROSS FINNIE

A member of the Scottish Executive

St Andrew’s House,

Edinburgh

6th March 2007