Open consultation Consultation on Unlicensed (Recreational) Fishing for Crabs and Lobsters

Summary

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has launched a public consultation to seek views on further measures for Recreational Fishing for Crabs and Lobsters. The consultation will run from 1st October 2025 until 24th December 2025.

Documents

• Consultation Document - Review of Unlicensed Fishing for Crabs and Lobsters Adobe PDF (211 KB)
• RNIA - The Unlicensed Fishing for Crabs and Lobsters (Amendment) Regulations Adobe PDF (313 KB)
• S75 Screening - Recreational Fishing for Crabs and Lobsters Adobe PDF (594 KB)
• The Unlicensed Fishing for Crabs and Lobsters Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 Adobe PDF (142 KB)

Help viewing documents

Consultation description

The purpose of this consultation is to seek views on proposals to amend The Unlicensed Fishing for Crabs and Lobster Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 (the 2008 regulations). 

The 2008 regulations permitted individuals to fish for certain crab/lobster species in NI inshore waters without a commercial fishing licence, however, under specific conditions. 

The 2008 regulations state that recreational fishers must not:

• Use more than five pots
• Take on board boat pots on behalf of anyone else
• Land, bring to land or retain on board a boat more than five crabs and one lobster per boat per day
• Use a stock cage

The 2008 regulations allow unlicensed (recreational) fishing for edible (brown) crab, velvet crab, spider crab, green crab and lobster and were intended to prevent commercial scale exploitation under the guise of recreational fishing.

Proposals in this Consultation

Proposals are to include a registration requirement for recreational crab and lobster fishers, pot tagging requirement and a catch recording arrangement, with the overall aim to improve management and sustainability of crab/lobster stock in NI waters.

At present, there is no existing data on the scale and impact of recreational potting activity on NI crab and lobster stock. The measures suggested would:

• Amend the existing legislation to monitor the scale of recreational fishing and record any ecological implications.
• Support future stock assessments
• Improve traceability
• Ensure all fishing activity (recreational and commercial) contributes to long term stability of crabs and lobsters.

The ‘Respond Online’ button below will take you directly to the Citizen Space Consultation Survey.