Section 275: Forfeiture etc of prohibited items
698.This section provides a power for certain fishing gear seized by an enforcement officer to be forfeited to the relevant authority for disposal. The forfeiture power applies to any fishing gear seized on board a vessel or from the sea which when seized by the enforcement officer could not be used for any form of fishing without committing an offence under the law of England and Wales. Examples of such gear include “French Dredges”, gill and other types of nets with mesh sizes between 71-89mm. The forfeiture power does not apply to gear found on land.