
2000 No. 200
SEA FISHERIES
Crabs and Lobsters (Minimum Size) Order (Northern Ireland) 2000
Made 26th May 2000
Coming into operation 30th June 2000
The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in exercise of the powers conferred on it by section 127(1) and (3A) of the Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1966 and of every other power enabling it in that behalf, hereby makes the following Order:
Citation and commencement
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.
Interpretation
2 

(1) In this Order—
 “the Act” means the Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1966;
 ...
 “foreign fishing boat” has the same meaning as in the Fisheries Act 2020 (see section 52 of that Act);
 “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.
Prescribed minimum size
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.
Exemptions
4 
The prohibitions imposed by section 127(1) of the Act, as read with Article 3 and the Schedule, do not apply in relation to sea-fish caught by a foreign fishing boat in waters lying outside British fishery limits.
Revocation
5 
The Undersized Lobsters Order (Northern Ireland) 1993 is hereby revoked.
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development on 26th May 2000.
G. Lavery
Senior Officer of the
Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

SCHEDULE 1
Illustrations

SCHEDULE 2
Prescribed Minimum Size


Species Minimum Landing Sizes
lobsters 87 mm
spider crabs (male) 130 mm
velvet crabs 65 mm