
1 
These Regulations may be cited as the Edible Crabs (Conservation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 and shall come into operation on 22nd August 2020.
2 
In these Regulations—
 “the Act” means the Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1966;
 “berried edible crab” means a female edible crab which is bearing eggs;
 “edible crab” means crab of the species Cancer pagurus;
 “foreign fishing boat” means a fishing boat that—
(a) is not registered in the United Kingdom under Part 2 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995;
(b) is not registered under the law of Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man; and
(c) is not British owned;
 “size” means the maximum width of the carapace measured perpendicular to the antero-posterior midline of the carapace and shall be measured as shown in the Schedule to these Regulations;
 “stock cage” means a containment device used to store crabs at sea or in the waters of a port or harbour.
3 

(1) Where an edible crab less than 140mm in size is brought on board a sea-fishing boat, it must be immediately returned to sea, as near as possible to the place from which it was taken.
(2) The retention of an edible crab less than 140mm in size in a stock cage is prohibited.
4 

(1) The retention on board a sea-fishing boat, the bringing to land or the landing of a berried edible crab is prohibited.
(2) Where a berried edible crab is brought on board a sea-fishing boat, it must be immediately returned to sea, as near as possible to the place from which it was taken.
(3) The removal of eggs from a berried edible crab is prohibited.
(4) The retention of a berried edible crab in a stock cage is prohibited.
5 
The obligations and prohibitions imposed by regulations 3 and 4 shall not apply to a foreign fishing boat or any person operating under the authority of, and in accordance with a permit granted under section 14 of the Act.
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs on 22nd July 2020.

Claire Vincent
A senior officer of the
Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

SCHEDULE
Regulation 2