
1 
These Regulations may be cited as the Rathlin Island (Prohibited Methods of Fishing) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 and come into operation on 31st December 2016.
2 
In these Regulations—
 “co-ordinate” means a co-ordinate on the World Geodetic System 1984 Datum and co-ordinate reference system;
 “dredge” means a mechanical dredge or suction dredge;
 “mechanical dredge” means a device with a rigid framed mouth constructed to catch shell-fish whilst being towed along the sea bed by a fishing boat;
 “demersal mobile gear” means any fishing gear that is towed along the sea bed or is otherwise moved through the water on or close to the sea bed to catch sea-fish, and includes, for example, a dredge, demersal seine net and demersal trawl net;
 “Rathlin Zone” means the area of sea adjacent to Rathlin Island, up to the mean high water mark of ordinary spring tides, landward of a boundary drawn by a series of straight lines joining each of the points lettered A, B, C, D, E, F and G set out in column 1 of the Schedule, the co-ordinates of which are set out in columns 2 and 3 opposite each point, to the next point in sequence;
 “demersal seine net” means a fishing gear assembly incorporating a conical shaped net and ropes, constructed to catch sea-fish by the method of encirclement, and which is towed along the sea bed;
 “suction dredge” means –
(a) a dredge which raises material or shell-fish from the sea bed using a solids pump, water pump, air lift, air jets or water jets which dig into the sea bed; or
(b) any other mechanical, pneumatic or hydraulic device which raises material or shell-fish from the sea bed by means of suction or pumping;
 “demersal trawl net” means a fishing gear assembly incorporating a conical shaped net, ropes and devices to hold open the mouth of the net, constructed to catch sea-fish whilst being towed along the sea bed by a fishing boat.
3 
Fishing for sea-fish using demersal mobile gear is prohibited in the Rathlin Zone.
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs on 22nd November 2016.
John Speers
A senior officer of the
Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

SCHEDULE
Regulation 2


Points Latitude Longitude
A. 55o19.283’N 06o17.867’W
B. 55o17.133’N 06o17.967’W
C. 55o17.050’N 06o12.433’W
D. 55o15.283’N 06o12.517’W
E. 55o15.233’N 06o09.617’W
F. 55o19.167’N 06o09.417’W
G. 55o19.283’N 06o17.867’W