The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority is reminding recreational fishers of regulations regarding crab and lobster fishing.
The summer season in full swing so non-commercial fishing is taking place in coastal areas around Ireland.
The SFPA is also calling on everyone buying fish, in particular those in the restaurant trade, to ensure that they purchase fish from legitimate sources only.
It is illegal to purchase from recreational non-commercial fishers.
Under EU and national legislation, recreational or non-commercial fishers who do not have a commercial fishing licence are restricted to doing no more than the following in pot fisheries:
" Fish for lobster and crab with pots from 1st May to 30th September only every year.
" Fish up to six pots (i.e., a maximum of 6 pots associated with their boat either in the water or on board at any time).
" Retain up to five crabs and one lobster daily.
" Eat their catch themselves or share with their immediate family - they cannot sell or offer for sale any catches (a commercial fishing license is needed to sell fish).
" Only land fish above the legal-size limits. In Irish waters the minimum size of brown crab is 140mm; spider crab (130mm for males and 125mm for females) and velvet crab 65mm, while lobsters must be a minimum size of 87mm and maximum size 127mm (carapace length). Anyone who catches a crab or lobster outside these size limits, must return it immediately to the sea.
" Never retain a lobster that has been V-notched or has a mutilated tail - they must be released back into the water.
" Never catch crabs or lobster by means of skin-diving, which includes using apparatus of any kind which enables a person to breathe under water.
