Close season
10.—(1) Notwithstanding section 25 of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975(1), a person who fishes for eels by means other than rod and line during the close season commits an offence.
(2) But this regulation does not apply to a person to the extent that they are acting—
(a)for some scientific or fisheries management purpose;
(b)with the written authority of the Agency; and
(c)in accordance with any conditions imposed by the Agency in relation to that authority.
(3) For the purposes of this regulation, the close season(2) is—
(a)for eels of 12 centimetres or less in length, the period beginning on 26th May 2010 and ending on 14th February 2011; and
(b)for all other eels, the period beginning on 1st October 2010 and ending on 31st March 2011.
Subsequent close seasons will be set down in byelaws made under the Water Resources Act 1991.