2019 No. 974

Sea Fisheries, England
Shellfish

The Tollesbury and Mersea (Blackwater) Fishery Order 2019

Made

Laid before Parliament

Coming into force

The Tollesbury and Mersea Native Oyster Fishery Company Limited (“the applicant”) has made an application to the Secretary of State, in accordance with section 1(2) of the Sea Fisheries (Shellfish) Act 1967 (“the Act”)1, for an order conferring a right of several fishery under section 1 of the Act.

The Secretary of State2 has prepared a draft order and served a copy of it on the applicant in accordance with paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to the Act3.

The applicant has caused printed copies of the draft order to be published and circulated, and has given notice of the application, in accordance with paragraph 2 of that Schedule.

The Secretary of State has considered representations received, in accordance with paragraphs 3 and 6 of that Schedule, and considers that it is expedient to make the Order.

The Secretary of State has had regard to the powers and duties of the Crown Estate Commissioners under the Crown Estate Act 19614, in accordance with paragraph 6(2) of that Schedule.

The Secretary of State makes this Order in exercise of the powers conferred by section 1 of the Act.

Citation, commencement, extent and interpretation1

1

This Order may be cited as the Tollesbury and Mersea (Blackwater) Fishery Order 2019 and comes into force on 14th July 2019.

2

It extends to England and Wales.

3

In this Order—

  • “the fishery” means the area of the Blackwater River in the county of Essex described in the Schedule;

  • “the Grantee” means the Tollesbury and Mersea Native Oyster Fishery Company Limited, whose company number is 00011066 and whose registered office is 15 High Street, West Mersea, Colchester, Essex, CO5 8QA;

  • “the management plan” means the plan marked “Tollesbury and Mersea (Blackwater) Fishery Order 2019 management plan” and deposited with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, as updated from time to time in accordance with article 6.

Right of several fishery2

The Secretary of State confers on the Grantee the right of several fishery for—

a

clams of the species Mercenaria mercenaria,

b

mussels of the species Mytilus edulis, and

c

oysters of the species Crassostrea gigas and Ostrea edulis,

within the limits of the fishery for a period of 20 years beginning with 14th July 2019.

Marking out the limits of the fishery3

The Grantee must mark out the limits of the fishery and maintain those marks in position and in good repair.

Management of the fishery4

The Grantee must manage the fishery in accordance with the management plan.

Publication of the management plan and updates to it5

The Grantee must—

a

publish the management plan on its website5, and

b

make that plan available for inspection at its registered office.

Review and update of the management plan6

1

The Grantee must review and, if necessary, update the management plan—

a

for the first time, by 14th July 2020, and

b

at least once a year thereafter.

2

The Grantee must, at least 4 weeks before making any update to the management plan—

a

notify the interested parties in writing of the proposed updates, and

b

publish the proposed updates.

3

The Grantee must, before making any update to the management plan, take account of any written representations it receives.

4

In paragraph (2)(a), “the interested parties” means—

a

the Secretary of State,

b

Natural England, and

c

any person likely to be affected by the management plan as updated.

Robert GoodwillMinister of StateDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

SCHEDULEArea of the fishery

Article 1(3)

1

1

The area is identifiable by virtue of the boundary line plotted by sequentially joining each of the points having the co-ordinates of latitude and longitude according to the World Geodetic System 19846 (“a set of co-ordinates”) specified in columns 2 and 3 of the table which correspond to the relevant entry in column 1.

2

For the purpose of identifying the fishery, all lines between a point identified by a set of co-ordinates are straight, other than in respect of the lines between a set of co-ordinates identified as—

a

C and D,

b

E and F,

c

G and H,

d

I and J,

e

K and L,

f

M and A,

where the line is the contour of the lowest astronomical tide.

3

In sub-paragraph (2), “lowest astronomical tide” means the lowest tide level which can be predicted to occur under average meteorological conditions and under any combination of astronomical conditions.

Table

(1)

Point number

(2)

Latitude

(3)

Longitude

A

51° 46.242’ N

000° 55.668’ E

B

51° 46.188’ N

000° 55.674’ E

C

51° 44.958’ N

000° 55.664’ E

D

51° 44.556’ N

000° 53.368’ E

E

51° 44.550’ N

000° 53.237’ E

F

51° 43.452’ N

000° 51.170’ E

G

51° 43.440’ N

000° 51.061’ E

H

51° 43.350’ N

000° 50.534’ E

I

51° 43.806’ N

000° 50.354’ E

J

51° 45.852’ N

000° 53.870’ E

K

51° 45.966’ N

000° 53.904’ E

L

51° 46.146’ N

000° 53.587’ E

M

51° 46.212’ N

000° 53.801’ E

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order grants the Tollesbury and Mersea Native Oyster Fishery Company Limited (“the Grantee”) a right of several fishery. This is the exclusive right to deposit, propagate, dredge, fish for and take clams, mussels and oysters in the River Blackwater for the period of 20 years beginning with 14th July 2019.

The area in respect of which the right is conferred lies within the Blackwater River in the county of Essex, the boundary line of which is determined by joining each of the sequential sets of co-ordinates set out in the Schedule. The area is shown (for illustrative purposes only) delineated on the map below. The area comprises approximately 10.93 square kilometres.

Article 4 requires the Grantee to manage the fishery in accordance with the management plan as defined in article 1(3). Article 6 provides for the periodic review of the management plan. The management plan is available for inspection at the registered office of the Grantee (15 High Street, West Mersea, Colchester, Essex, CO5 8QA), and eletronically ( http://merseanativeoysters.co.uk/ ).

An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.

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