(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations revoke and replace with amendments the Fisheries Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 to remove references to commercial salmon netting and licencing and to introduce mandatory catch and release for salmon angling except on those waters so designated.
The principal changes are as follows –
1. The definitions of “game fishing rod licence” and “juvenile season fishing rod licence” have been amended to provide that the licence does not necessarily permit the killing of salmon unless used on waters designated for this purpose (Regulation 2(1))
2. New definitions have been added for “catch and release” and “earthworm”. (Regulation 2(1)).
3. Definitions and references to the use, and licencing of “drift nets”, “fixed tidal draft nets” and “tidal draft nets” have been removed.
4. Angling for salmon is now on a catch and release basis only except for those waters which are listed in Schedule 7 (Regulations 49 and 50).
6. Further restrictions on permitted methods whilst angling for salmon have been introduced (Regulation 56).