PART 2The right of several fishery

The right of several fishery3

The right of several fishery for the prescribed species is conferred on the Grantee for a period of 35 years beginning on 2 April 2022 in relation to the several fishery area11.

Designation of several fishery area4

1

The Grantee may, from time to time, with the consent of the Welsh Ministers, designate the several fishery area.

2

The designation must be in writing and must—

a

identify all areas to be designated by reference to an area within a line drawn between listed co-ordinates;

b

confirm that it is made under this article;

c

state the date upon which it is to take effect; and

d

be signed by the Grantee.

3

The designation must be published by the Grantee on their website no later than 7 days after it takes effect.

Welsh Ministers’ consent to a designation made under article 4(1)5

1

A request for the Welsh Ministers’ consent to a designation under article 4(1) must be made in writing and —

a

identify the area of the proposed several fishery area in accordance with article 4(2)(a);

b

include an illustrative map of the Order area with proposed boundaries between the regulated fishery area and the several fishery area marked on it;

c

include a statement from the Grantee in support of the request; and

d

where the Grantee has made regulations under article 20, confirm that the Grantee has given consideration to whether amendment of those regulations is necessary.

2

The Grantee must not seek the Welsh Ministers’ consent to a designation under article 4(1) that includes a part of the Order area in relation to which there are licences in force.

3

The Welsh Ministers may require the Grantee to provide them with any further information as they reasonably require to consider the request.

4

When considering whether to consent to a designation the Welsh Ministers must have regard to—

a

the impact of the designation on the European marine sites; and

b

the impact of the designation on the marine environment.

5

The Welsh Ministers’ consent must be given in writing.

Cancellation of a designation made under article 4(1)6

1

The Grantee may, from time to time, with the consent of the Welsh Ministers, cancel the designation made under article 4(1).

2

A cancellation of the designation must be made in writing and must—

a

confirm it is made under this article;

b

confirm the date upon which it is to take effect; and

c

be signed by the Grantee.

3

The Grantee must not seek the Welsh Ministers’ consent to a cancellation that includes a part of the Order area in relation to which there are leases in force.

4

The cancellation of the designation must be published by the Grantee on their website no later than 7 days after it takes effect.

Welsh Ministers’ consent to cancellation of a designation made under article 4(1)7

1

A request for the Welsh Ministers’ consent to a cancellation of a designation made under article 4(1) must be made in writing and—

a

include a statement from the Grantee in support of the request;

b

confirm it is made under this article;

c

confirm the date upon which it takes effect; and

d

be signed by the Grantee.

2

The Welsh Ministers may require the Grantee to provide them with any further information as they reasonably require to consider the request.

3

When considering whether to consent to a cancellation the Welsh Ministers must have regard to—

a

the impact of the cancellation on the European marine sites; and

b

the impact of the cancellation on the marine environment.

4

The Welsh Ministers’ consent must be given in writing.

Restrictions on the right of several fishery8

1

The right of several fishery may not be exercised by the Grantee.

2

The Grantee may, from time to time, with the consent of the Welsh Ministers, grant a lease over part of the several fishery area.

3

The Grantee may not, without the prior written consent of the Welsh Ministers, lease, assign or in any other way transfer the right of several fishery to another person.

4

Any lease granted by the Grantee must—

a

not exceed a term of 7 years and where applicable must expire on or before the date upon which the right of several fishery ceases in accordance with article 3;

b

prohibit assignment of the lease, or the grant of a sub-lease and assignment of it, without the prior written consent of the Welsh Ministers;

c

require the tenant to maintain laying markings in position and in good repair;

d

require the tenant to maintain the laying to the satisfaction of the Grantee;

e

permit the Welsh Ministers, or any person authorised by them, access to the laying for the purpose of—

i

an environmental survey;

ii

monitoring stock;

iii

monitoring the spread of the prescribed species;

iv

disease prevention; and

v

the collection of samples.

f

permit the Grantee to inspect the laying for the purpose of monitoring compliance with the lease;

g

require the tenant to comply with any site protection notice relating to their laying served on the Grantee; and

h

provide that in the event of the tenant breaching the lease the Grantee may —

i

take the necessary action to remedy the breach; and

ii

terminate the lease.

Welsh Ministers’ consent to a lease9

1

A request for the Welsh Ministers’ consent under article 8(2) must be made in writing and include—

a

a copy of the draft lease; and

b

a statement from the Grantee in support of the request.

2

The Welsh Ministers may require the Grantee to provide them with any further information they reasonably require to consider the request.

3

Before consenting to any lease the Welsh Ministers must have regard to —

a

the impact of the proposed lease upon the European marine sites;

b

the impact of the proposed lease upon the marine environment.

4

The Welsh Ministers’ consent must be given in writing.

Grantee’s duty to monitor compliance with a lease10

The Grantee must take all reasonable steps to monitor the tenant’s compliance with any lease granted.

Effect of a lease11

A lease has effect as if the right which it confers on the tenant were conferred by an order made under section 1 of the Act, and as if any terms and conditions contained in the lease were contained in such an order.

New lease opportunities12

1

In the event that a laying becomes vacant, before granting a new lease, the Grantee must—

a

advertise the opportunity to apply for a lease on their website and in at least one local newspaper;

b

publish on their website the criteria the Grantee will use to assess the applications received;

c

allow a period of at least 28 days for submission of applications; and

d

assess all applications according to published criteria and in accordance with paragraph (2).

2

When assessing applications received from prospective tenants, the Grantee must have regard to whether applicants can demonstrate either —

a

evidence of competence to safely operate a laying; or

b

proposals to obtain relevant training or qualifications to acquire competence to safely operate a laying.

3

For the purposes of paragraph (1), a laying becomes vacant if the tenant of that laying—

a

surrenders their lease to the Grantee;

b

forfeits their lease to the Grantee; or

c

at the expiry of the term of one lease, does not seek a new lease.

Income from the several fishery area13

All income received by the Grantee by way of rent payable under a lease must be applied for the following purposes in order of priority listed below—

a

discharging the expenses of obtaining this Order;

b

marking out the boundaries of the several fishery area and layings;

c

the destruction of pests harmful to the prescribed species; and

d

management, supervision and improvement of the several fishery area.