The Scallop Fishing Order 2004

General restriction on scallop dredges

3.—(1) No British fishing boat shall carry or tow a scallop dredge within relevant British fishery limits unless that dredge meets all of the following criteria—

(a) its frame does not exceed 85 centimetres in width in any part;

(b) it includes a functioning, operational and moveable spring loaded tooth bar and a belly bar;

(c) it does not contain any attachments to the rear, top or inside of the dredge;

(d) it does not contain a diving plate or any other similar device; and

(e) the total weight of the dredge including all fittings does not exceed 150 kilogrammes.

(2) The prohibition in paragraph (1) does not apply to a fishing boat which does not retain any scallops on board and is—

(a) in an area which is a production area for the purpose of the Food Safety (Fishery Products and Live Shellfish) (Hygiene) Regulations 1998(1); or

(b) on a voyage in which it only fishes for and retains on board seed mussel for relaying into such a production area.

(3) In this article, belly rings, as described in article 4, and the fastenings which attach them to each other and to the frame do not count as attachments, and “tooth bar” and “belly bar” have the same meanings as in that article.

(1)

S.I. 1998/994, to which there are amendments not relevant to this Order.