The Sole, Plaice, Cod and Haddock (Specified Sea Areas) (Prohibition of Fishing) Order 1995

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order prohibits fishing for—

(a) sole in sea areas ICES Statistical Sub-Areas II, IV, VI, XII and XIV and ICES Statistical Divisions V b and VII h, j and k;

(b) plaice in sea areas ICES Statistical Divisions VII h, j and k;

(c) cod and haddock in sea areas ICES Statistical Sub-Areas XII and XIV and ICES Statistical Division VI b

during the period beginning with the date of coming into force of the Order and ending immediately before 1st January 1996—

(i) by any British fishing boat registered in the United Kingdom within any part of any such sea area, or

(ii) by any British fishing boat registered in the Isle of Man or any of the Channel Islands or by any British-owned fishing boat within any part of any such sea area which lies within British fishery limits.

This Order does not apply to any boat over 10 metres in length except in the case of any boat when used for the purpose of conveying persons wishing to fish for pleasure (article 2(2)). “Length” is defined in article 1(2).

By virtue of section 5(6) of the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967 (as amended by section 22(2) of the Fisheries Act 1981), where, in the course of any fishing operations conducted in any of the above-mentioned sea areas, fish caught in contravention of this Order are taken on board a boat to which this Order applies, those fish shall (subject to section 9 of that Act) be returned to the sea forthwith.

British sea-fishery officers are given certain enforcement powers for the purpose of the enforcement of the Order (article 3).