ENVIRONMENT AGENCY

Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975 Water Resources Act 1991 Environment Act 1995

Fisheries Byelaws

Notice is hereby given that the Environment Agency intends to apply after 15th April 1998 to the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretary of State for Wales for confirmation of Byelaws made under the Water Resources Act 1991 as amended by the Environment Act 1995 in relation to:   1. The prohibition of the use of crayfish as bait in connection with fishing with rod and line for salmon, trout, freshwater fish or eels in all waters across all regions of the Agency.   2. The requirement for otter guards to be fitted to all eel fyke nets and eel traps (except putts) with an entrance greater than 95 millimetres, in all inland and tidal waters across all regions of the Agency.   3. The creation of a consistent byelaw regulating:     (a) removal of fish by means other than rod and line;     (b) removal of fish by rod and line;     across all regions of the Agency.   4. The creation of a consistent catch return byelaw for eels caught by any instrument other than rod and line, across all regions of the Agency.   5. The requirement for fishing rods to be attended at all times while fishing, across all regions of the Agency.   6. Provision of exemption from national byelaw requirements for Agency employees acting in official capacity or others with written Agency permission, for scientific or fisheries management purposes.   7. The revocation of existing byelaws regulating trolling and trailing in Anglian, Midlands and Thames Regions.   8. The revocation of an existing byelaw regulating minimum rod length in South West Region.   9. The removal of the course fish close season on waters within two SSSIs designated under the schedule to the coarse fish close season Byelaws.   Copies of the Byelaws have been deposited at the offices of the Agency at the addresses shown here and will be open to inspection, free of charge, from Monday to Friday, during normal office hours, from the date of publication of this notice until 15th April 1998. During the same period copies of the Byelaws will be supplied by these offices on demand, free of charge, to any person.   Any person who wishes to object to the confirmation of the above Byelaws must send a statement of their objection in writing to The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Room 308, Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR, or to G. Pogson, Welsh Office, Agriculture Department 2 c, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF1 3NQ, to be received no later than 15th April 1998 and must send a copy of the statement of objection to The Fisheries Officer, Environment Agency, Rio House, Waterside Drive, Aztec West, Almondsbury, Bristol BS32 4UD.   Head Office—Rio House, Waterside Drive, Aztec West, Almondsbury, Bristol BS32 4UD.   North East Region—Rivers House, 21 Park Square South, Leeds LS1 2GQ.   Anglian Region—Kingfisher House, Goldhay Way, Orton Goldhay, Peterborough PE2 0ZR.   Thames Region—Kings Meadow House, Kings Meadow Road, Reading RG1 8DQ.   Southern Region—Guildbourne House, Chatsworth Road, Worthing, West Sussex BN11 1LD.   South West Region—Manley House, Kestrel Way, Exeter EX2 7LQ.   Midlands Region—Sapphire East, 550 Streetsbrook Road, Solihull, West Midlands B91 1QT.   Welsh Region—Rivers House, St. Mellons Business Park, St. Mellons, Cardiff CF3 0LT.   North West Region—Richard Fairclough House, Knutsford Road, Warrington WA4 1HG.