1. This Order may be cited as the Crabs and Lobsters (Minimum Size) Order (Northern Ireland) 2000 and shall come into operation on 30th June 2000.
2.—(1) In this Order—
“the Act” means the Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1966;
“lobster” means lobster of the species Homarus gammarus.
(2) For the purposes of this Order, the size of:—
(a)lobsters, shall be measured as shown in the illustration of a lobster set out in Schedule 1 as the length of the carapace, parallel to the midline from the back of either eye socket to the distal edge of the carapace;
(b)spider crabs shall be measured as shown in the illustration of a spider crab set out in Schedule 1 as the length of the carapace measured along the midline, from the edge of the carapace, between the rostrums to the posterior edge of the carapace; and
(c)velvet crabs, shall be measured as shown in the illustration of a velvet crab set out in Schedule 1 as the width of the carapace measured across the broadest part, excluding spines, of the back.
“spider crab” means crab of the species Maia squinado;
“velvet crab” means crab of the species Necora puber.
3. For the purpose of section 127(1) of the Act there are hereby prescribed in Schedule 2 to this Order the minimum sizes in relation to lobsters, male spider crabs and velvet crabs.
4. The bringing to land, landing, sale, exposure or offer for sale or possession of lobsters, male spider crabs and velvet crabs which are landed from foreign fishing boats are exempted from the prohibitions imposed by section 127(1) of the Act as read with Article 3 and the Schedule.
5. The Undersized Lobsters Order (Northern Ireland) 1993(1) is hereby revoked.
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development on 26th May 2000.
L.S.
G. Lavery
Senior Officer of the
Department of Agriculture and Rural Development