A new byelaw has come into force within the Sussex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA) district relating to the gathering of marine organisms in the intertidal area. This is good news for wildlife within the harbour, enabling the regulation and recording for a range of marine organisms including shellfish, bait species and seaweeds. This Byelaw will safeguard the most vulnerable and ecologically important intertidal areas, supporting the sustainable management of these fisheries within the Sussex IFCA district, and the ecosystem services they provide.
Hand-gathering is now prohibited in parts of Chichester Harbour (within the Sussex IFCA district) and there are now daily bag limits for a number of specified species within designated hand gathering zones. Anyone intending to gather above these limits will require a Hand Gathering Permit, issued by Sussex IFCA.
Key points:
- All hand gathering within the Chichester Harbour Management Zone is PROHIBITED outside of the four “hand gathering zones” as indicated on the map above.
- Seagrass beds within the harbour are now protected – A person must not knowingly remove, harm, kill or destroy eel grass (Zostera species) or intertidal kelp species (Laminaria digitata and Sacchorina latissimi).
- Only specified species may be removed – a person must not remove marine organisms from the intertidal shore within the District other than the specified species and stranded dead fish of any species.
- There are daily bag limits for all specified species; anyone gathering above these limits must hold a valid permit issued by Sussex IFCA.
A full explanation of the byelaw as it related to Chichester Harbour can be found here:
And the byelaw and explanatory notes can be found at the Sussex IFCA website:
Chief Fisheries & Conservation Officer for the Authority, Rob Pearson explains:
‘Whilst developing this Byelaw, the Authority spent considerable time consulting with Stakeholders to consider the impacts of the new management measures. The management maintains the ability of stakeholders to gather an appropriate amount of marine organisms for personal use, however, for those looking to gather levels considered at a commercial level, it introduces the requirement for a permit with additional permit conditions. This ensures the Authority can understand, monitor and manage the impact of hand gathering activities across the District. It also introduces additional management for the Districts most vulnerable Marine Protected Areas, reflecting the Authorities vision to champion a sustainable marine environment and inshore fisheries within the District.’
Enforcement:
Sussex IFCA have an intelligence-led approach to its enforcement work and they actively encourage reporting of suspected illegal gathering. This can be done via the Sussex IFCA website here, or by phoning the Sussex IFCA Office on 01273 454407 Any reports should include date and time as well as who, what, where, when, why and how.