Explanatory note

Section 127(1) of the Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1966 (“the 1966 Act”) prohibits the bringing to land, landing, sale or offering or exposure for sale or having in possession for the purpose of sale, any sea fish of a description prescribed by order where those sea fish are smaller than the minimum size so prescribed.

For the purposes of Section 127(1), Article 3 of this Order prescribes a minimum size for edible crabs of 140mm.

Article 4 provides an exemption from the prohibition in Article 3 for foreign fishing boats or persons operating under a licence granted in accordance with section 14 of the 1966 Act.

Article 5 revokes the Undersized Edible Crabs Order 2000 which provides for a minimum landing size of 130mm, insofar as it applies to Northern Ireland.