
1 
These Byelaws may be cited as the Fisheries (Conservation of Coarse Fish) Byelaws (Northern Ireland) 2008 and shall come into operation on 15th September 2008.
2 

(1) In these Byelaws—
 “angling” means the fishing for, taking or killing of fish by rod and line or hand line;
 “bait” means any material used on a hook for the purpose of attracting fish;
 “coarse fish” means any freshwater fish other than pike, salmon, rainbow trout, trout, eels or minnow;
 “hand-line” means a line held in the hand to which shall be attached not more than a single baited hook;
 “hook” means a hook attached to a fishing line.
(2) In these Byelaws any reference to the size of any fish shall be construed as a reference to its length when measured from the tip of its snout to the fork or cleft of its tail.
3 
Where any person, whilst angling, takes any coarse fish in excess of four on any day, then he shall, without avoidable injury, cause such fish to be returned immediately to the water from which it was taken.
4 
Where any person, whilst angling, takes any coarse fish of a size greater than 25 centimetres, then he shall, without avoidable injury, cause such fish to be returned immediately to the water from which it was taken.
5 
A person shall not have in his possession more than four coarse fish caught by rod and line or hand line for use as bait in fishing for pike.
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Fisheries Conservancy Board on 3rd July 2008.
Dr. R. Hanna
Chairman
K. A. Simpson (Mrs)
Secretary
The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure hereby approves the foregoing Byelaws.Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure on 24th July 2008.
H. Campbell
A senior officer of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure
