The Cod and Whiting (Specified Sea Areas) (Prohibition of Fishing) Order 1995

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order prohibits fishing for—

(a) cod in sea area ICES Statistical Division VIIa; and

(b) whiting in seas areas ICES Statistical Sub-Areas IV, VI, XII and XIV and ICES Statistical Divisions IIa and Vb

during the period beginning with the date of coming into force of the Order and ending immediately before 1st January 1996—

(i) by any British fishing boat registered in the United Kingdom within any part of any such area, or

(ii) by any British fishing boat registered in the Isle of Man or any of the Channel Islands or by any British-owned fishing boat within any part of any such area which lies within British fishery limits (article 2).

This Order does not apply to any boat over 10 metres in length except in the case of any boat when used for the purpose of conveying persons wishing to fish for pleasure (article 2(2)). “Length” is defined in article 1(2).

By virtue of section 5(6) of the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967 (as amended by section 22(2) of the Fisheries Act 1981), where, in the course of any fishing operations conducted in any of the above-mentioned sea areas, fish caught in contravention of this Order are taken on board a boat to which this Order applies, those fish shall (subject to section 9 of that Act) be returned to the sea forthwith.

British sea-fishery officers are given certain enforcement powers for the purpose of the enforcement of the Order (article 3).