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Fishing for Western Mackerel Prohibited
17/12/1998
Joint Announcement by UK Fisheries Departments
Fishing for Western mackerel by under 10 metre British vessels is to be banned from tomorrow (Friday, 18 December) until the end of the year, because catch figures show that the share of the 1998 UK quota allocated to these vessels has now been taken.
The prohibition coincides with closures of fishing by over 10 metre vessels prosecuting the local handline fishery.
Once the prohibition comes into effect it will be an offence to retain on board any mackerel caught in the specified areas in the course of any fishing operations. These stocks must be returned to the sea.
BACKGROUND
1. The prohibitions are contained in The Mackerel (Specified Sea Areas) (Prohibition of Fishing) Order 1998 which came into force on 18 December 1998.
2. The prohibitions apply from 00.01 hours on 18 December 1998 until midnight on 31 December 1998
3. The sea areas specified in the Order are Vb, VI, VII, VIIIa, b, d, and e, XII and XIV.
4. The prohibitions apply to all British fishing vessels of 10 metres overall length or under, and to British fishing vessels exceeding 10 metres overall length when used to convey persons fishing for pleasure.
News Release: 2672/98
17 December, 1998