# Salmon Drift Net Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014

S.R. 2014/16 · made 21 January 2014 · revised to 31 December 2020

These Regulations prohibit the use of drift nets to catch and kill salmon in tidal waters. The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure considers this to be a necessary measure to fulfil its obligations under Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora.

Made under: Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1966 (Section 70)

PDFs: Printed copy https://openlegislation.uk/salmon-drift-net-regulations-northern-ireland-2014/pdf/nisr_20140016_en.pdf; Explanatory Memorandum https://openlegislation.uk/salmon-drift-net-regulations-northern-ireland-2014/pdf/nisrem_20140016_en.pdf

## Introductory text

Fisheries
Made 21st January 2014
Coming into operation 1st March 2014
The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure , makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 70(1) of the Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1966 and now vested in it .

## 1 Citation and commencement

These Regulations may be cited as the Salmon Drift Net Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 and come into operation on 1st March 2014.

## 2 Interpretation

In these Regulations—
“drift net” means a net consisting of a single sheet or wall of netting loosely hung on cork and sole ropes;
“drift net licence” means a fishing licence authorising the use of drift nets for the taking of salmon in the sea.

## 3 Prohibition of drift nets for salmon fishing

Subject to regulation 4, the use of drift nets for fishing for salmon is prohibited.

## 4 Resumption of drift netting

(1) The Department may issue a drift net licence for salmon fishing only if it decides that such fishing is not likely to have an adverse impact on:
(a) a Special Area of Conservation as defined under the Conservation (Natural Habitats, etc.) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995 or;
(b) any rivers which are not meeting such salmon management targets as may be determined and published by the Department.
(2) Where the Department so decides, then, subject to paragraph (3), first preference shall be given to a person who has held a drift net licence in any one of the 3 calendar years immediately preceding the coming into operation of these Regulations.
(3) A person mentioned in paragraph (2) may by written notice given to the Department, nominate another person in his place.

## Signature

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure on 21st January 2014.
(L.S.)
C. Smith
A senior officer of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure

## Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations prohibit the use of drift nets to catch and kill salmon in tidal waters. The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure considers this to be a necessary measure to fulfil its obligations under Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora.
Regulation 4 describes the circumstances under which netting by these means may resume and the order of preference for future applications in this event.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2014/16 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/salmon-drift-net-regulations-northern-ireland-2014
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.