Citation, commencement and application

1.-(1) This Order may be cited as the Specified Crustaceans (Prohibition on Landing, Sale and Carriage) (Scotland) Order 2017 and comes into force on 25th February 2018.

(2) This Order applies only in relation to Scotland and the Scottish zone.

Interpretation

2.  In this Order-

"the Act" means the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967;

"co-ordinate" means a co-ordinate of latitude and longitude according to the World Geodetic System 1984 datum(3); and

"foreign fishing boat" means any fishing boat other than a fishing boat which is either registered in the United Kingdom under Part II of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995(4) or is owned wholly by persons qualified to own British ships for the purposes of that Part of that Act.

Prescribed minimum size for landing edible crabs in Scotland

3.-(1) For the purposes of section 1(1) of the Act (which prohibits the landing in Scotland of any sea fish of any description, which does not meet such requirements as to size as may be prescribed in relation to sea fish of that description), there is prescribed as the minimum size in relation to sea fish of the description of edible crab a size of 150 millimetres.

(2) Landing from foreign fishing boats is exempted from the prohibition imposed by section 1(1) of the Act, as read with paragraph (1).

(3) Landing into the Shetland Islands is exempted from the prohibition imposed by section 1(1) of the Act, as read with paragraph (1).

(4) In this article-

"edible crab" means crab of the species Cancer pagurus; and

"size", in relation to an edible crab, means the maximum width of the carapace, measured perpendicular to the antero-posterior midline of the carapace, as shown in schedule 1.

Prohibitions on landing, sale, exposure or offer for sale or possession, or carriage of velvet crabs

4.-(1) For the purposes of section 1(1) of the Act (which prohibits the landing in Scotland of any sea fish of any description, which does not meet such requirements as to size as may be prescribed in relation to sea fish of that description), there is prescribed as the minimum size in relation to sea fish of the description of velvet crab a size of 70 millimetres.

(2) For the purposes of section 1(2) of the Act (which prohibits in Scotland the sale, exposure or offer for sale or possession for the purpose of sale of any sea fish of any description, which does not meet such requirements as to size as may be prescribed in relation to sea fish of that description), there is prescribed as the minimum size in relation to sea fish of the description of velvet crab a size of 70 millimetres.

(3) For the purposes of section 1(3B) of the Act (which prohibits the carriage on specified fishing boats of any sea fish of any description, which does not meet such requirements as to size as may be prescribed in relation to sea fish of that description) there is prescribed as the minimum size in relation to sea fish of the description of velvet crab a size of 70 millimetres.

(4) It is prohibited for a relevant British fishing boat within the Scottish zone to carry any velvet crab with a size of less than 70 millimetres.

(5) The landing in Scotland of any berried velvet crab, caught in the territorial sea of the United Kingdom adjacent to Scotland, is prohibited.

(6) Landing from foreign fishing boats is exempted from the prohibition imposed by-

(a)section 1(1) of the Act, as read with paragraph (1); and

(b)paragraph (5).

(7) The sale, exposure or offer for sale or possession for the purpose of sale of any velvet crab which is landed from foreign fishing boats is exempted from the prohibition imposed by section 1(2) of the Act, as read with paragraph (2).

(8) In this article-

"berried velvet crab" means a female velvet crab which is bearing eggs;

"size" in relation to a velvet crab, means the width of the carapace measured across the broadest part, excluding spines, of the back, as shown in schedule 2;

"the territorial sea of the United Kingdom adjacent to Scotland" means waters which are treated as the territorial sea of the United Kingdom adjacent to Scotland, within the boundaries described in article 3 and schedule 1 of the Scottish Adjacent Waters Boundaries Order 1999(5); and

"velvet crab" means crab of the species Necora puber.

Prescribed minimum size for landing spider crabs in Scotland

5.-(1) For the purposes of section 1(1) of the Act (which prohibits the landing in Scotland of any sea fish of any description, which does not meet such requirements as to size as may be prescribed in relation to sea fish of that description), there is prescribed as the minimum size in relation to sea fish of the description of male spider crab a size of 130 millimetres.

(2) Landing from foreign fishing boats is exempt from the prohibition imposed by section 1(1) of the Act, as read with paragraph (1).

(3) In this article-

"size", in relation to a spider crab, means the length of the carapace, along the midline, from the edge of the carapace between the rostrums to the posterior edge of the carapace and is to be measured as shown in schedule 3; and

"spider crab" means crab of the species Maja squinado.

Prescribed minimum size for landing green crabs in the Orkney Islands

6.-(1) For the purposes of section 1(1) of the Act (which prohibits the landing in Scotland of any sea fish of any description, which does not meet such requirements as to size as may be prescribed in relation to sea fish of that description), in relation to landing in the Orkney Islands, there is prescribed as the minimum size in relation to sea fish of the description of green crab a size of 70 millimetres.

(2) Landing from foreign fishing boats is exempted from the prohibition imposed by section 1(1) of the Act, as read with paragraph (1).

(3) In this article-

"green crab" means crab of the species Carcinus maenas; and

"size", in relation to a green crab, means the maximum width of the carapace (including the spines) measured perpendicular to the antero-posterior midline of the carapace and is to be measured as shown in schedule 4.

Prohibitions on landing, sale, exposure or offer for sale or possession, or carriage of lobsters

7.-(1) For the purposes of section 1(1) of the Act (which prohibits the landing in Scotland of any sea fish of any description, which does not meet such requirements as to size as may be prescribed in relation to sea fish of that description), in relation to landing in the areas of coast specified in paragraph (2), there is prescribed as the minimum size in relation to sea fish of the description of lobster a size of 90 millimetres.

(2) The areas of coast are-

(a)the coasts of the islands of the Orkney Islands;

(b)the coasts of the islands of the Outer Hebrides.

(3) For the purposes of section 1(1) of the Act, in relation to landing in the west coast of mainland Scotland, stretching in a generally westerly and southerly direction from Cape Wrath at co-ordinate 58°37.642′ north latitude 005°00.295′ west longitude to the point at which the west coast of mainland Scotland intersects with the line of 55 degrees north latitude, there is prescribed as the minimum size in relation to sea fish of the description of lobster-

(a)from 25th February 2018 to 24th February 2019, both dates inclusive, a size of 88 millimetres;

(b)on or after 25th February 2019, a size of 90 millimetres.

(4) For the purposes of section 1(1) of the Act, in relation to landing in any other part of the coastline of Scotland except the coasts of the islands of the Shetland Islands and those areas specified in paragraphs (2) and (3), there is prescribed as the minimum size in relation to sea fish of the description of lobster a size of 87 millimetres.

(5) For the purposes of section 1(1) of the Act, in relation to landing in any of the areas of coast specified in paragraph (6), there is prescribed as the maximum size in relation to sea fish of the description of female lobster a size of 155 millimetres.

(6) The areas of coast are-

(a)the coasts of the Shetland Islands;

(b)the coasts of the Orkney Islands.

(7) For the purposes of section 1(1) of the Act, in relation to landing in any other part of the coastline of Scotland except those areas specified in paragraph (6), there is prescribed as the maximum size in relation to sea fish of the description of female lobster a size of 145 millimetres.

(8) For the purposes of section 1(2) of the Act (which prohibits in Scotland the sale, exposure or offer for sale or possession for the purpose of sale of any sea fish of any description, which does not meet such requirements as to size as may be prescribed in relation to sea fish of that description), there is prescribed as the minimum size in relation to sea fish of the description of lobster a size of 87 millimetres.

(9) For the purposes of section 1(3B) of the Act (which prohibits the carriage on specified fishing boats of any sea fish of any description, which does not meet such requirements as to size as may be prescribed in relation to sea fish of that description), there is prescribed as the minimum size in relation to sea fish of the description of lobster a size of 87 millimetres.

(10) It is prohibited for a relevant British fishing boat within the Scottish zone to carry any sea fish of the description of lobster with a size of less than 87 millimetres.

(11) It is prohibited to land in Scotland any sea fish of the description of crippled female lobster, caught in the waters described in schedule 6.

(12) Landing from foreign fishing boats is exempted from the prohibitions imposed by section 1(1) of the Act, as read with paragraphs (1) to (7), and by paragraph (11).

(13) The sale, exposure or offer for sale or possession for the purpose of sale of any lobster which is landed from foreign fishing boats is exempted from the prohibition imposed by section 1(2) of the Act, as read with paragraph (8).

(14) In this article-

"crippled female lobster" means a female lobster missing part or all of its crusher claw, or part or all of its cutter claw;

"lobster" means lobster of the species Homarus gammarus; and

"size", in relation to a lobster, means the length of the carapace parallel to the midline, from the back of either eye socket to the distal edge of the carapace and is to be measured in accordance with schedule 5.

Revocations

8.-(1) The following Orders are revoked:-

(a)the Undersized Lobsters (Scotland) Order 2000(6);

(b)the Undersized Spider Crabs (Scotland) Order 2000(7);

(c)the Undersized Edible Crabs (Scotland) Order 2000(8);

(d)the Outer Hebrides (Landing of Crabs and Lobsters) Order 2015(9);

(e)the Orkney Islands (Landing of Crabs and Lobsters) Order 2016(10).

(2) The Undersized Velvet Crabs Order 1989(11) is revoked in relation to Scotland and the Scottish zone.

(3) Article 9 of the Inshore Fishing (Prohibition of Fishing and Fishing Methods) (Scotland) Order 2004(12) (prohibition of fishing for lobsters) is revoked.

Article 3(4)

SCHEDULE 1MEASUREMENT OF THE SIZE OF AN EDIBLE CRAB

Article 4(8)

SCHEDULE 2MEASUREMENT OF THE SIZE OF A VELVET CRAB

Article 5(3)

SCHEDULE 3MEASUREMENT OF THE SIZE OF A SPIDER CRAB

Article 6(3)

SCHEDULE 4MEASUREMENT OF THE SIZE OF A GREEN CRAB

Article 7(14)

SCHEDULE 5MEASUREMENT OF THE SIZE OF A LOBSTER

Article 7(11)

SCHEDULE 6DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFIED WATERS

Interpretation

1.  In this schedule-

"miles" means international nautical miles of 1,852 metres; and

"Scottish inshore waters" means the area adjacent to the coast of Scotland and within the Scottish zone, and to the landward of a limit of six miles from the baseline from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured, up to the mean high-water mark of ordinary spring tides.

Description of the specified waters

2.-(1) That part of Scottish inshore waters which is bounded by the lines (the topographical descriptions of which are provided in the fourth column of the following table) which join in sequential order the co-ordinates listed and identified in the first, second and third columns.

(2) Those parts of Scottish inshore waters which are adjacent to the following Scottish islands (the centroid co-ordinates of which are listed in the second and third columns of the following table) and are bounded to the north, east, south and west by the seaward limit of Scottish inshore waters.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order makes provisions regarding fishing for, landing, sale, exposure or offer for sale and possession for the purposes of sale and carriage of specified crustaceans in Scotland and the Scottish zone.

The Order revokes, replaces and remakes with amendments the provisions of the Undersized Lobsters (Scotland) Order 2000 (S.S.I. 2000/197), the Undersized Spider Crabs (Scotland) Order 2000 (S.S.I. 2000/198), the Undersized Edible Crabs (Scotland) Order 2000 (S.S.I. 2000/228), the Outer Hebrides (Landing of Crabs and Lobsters) Order 2015 (S.S.I. 2015/183) and the Orkney Islands (Landing of Crabs and Lobsters) Order 2016 (S.S.I. 2016/50). The Undersized Velvet Crabs Order 1989 (S.I. 1989/919) is revoked and replaced in relation to Scotland and the Scottish zone.

Article 3(1) of the Order prescribes a minimum size for the landing of edible crab in Scotland. Article 3(2) provides that there is an exemption from this minimum landing size in relation to landings from foreign fishing boats. Article 3(3) provides for an additional exemption in relation to landings of edible crab in the Shetland Islands. The effect of this provision, as combined with section 1(1) of the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967 ("the 1967 Act"), is to prohibit the landing in all of Scotland (except the Shetland Islands) of edible crab which do not meet the requirements as to minimum size. The minimum size for the landing of edible crab in the Shetlands Islands remains prescribed by Article 19(1) and Annex XII of Council Regulation (EC) No 850/98 (OJ No L 125, 27.4.1998, p.1) for the conservation of fishery resources through technical measures for the protection of juveniles of marine organisms ("the Council Regulation").

Article 4(1) of the Order prescribes a minimum size for the landing of velvet crab in Scotland. The effect of this provision, as combined with section 1(1) of the 1967 Act, is to prohibit the landing in Scotland of velvet crab which do not meet the requirements as to minimum size. Article 4(2) prescribes a minimum size for the sale, exposure or offer for sale or possession in Scotland. The effect of this provision, as combined with section 1(2) of the 1967 Act, is to prohibit the selling, exposure or offering for sale or possession of any velvet crab in Scotland which does not meet the requirements as to minimum size. Article 4(3) and (4) prohibits UK fishing boats other than Scottish fishing boats from carrying velvet crabs within the Scottish zone if they measure less than a prescribed minimum size. A similar prohibition applies to Scottish fishing boats, by virtue of article 4(3) and section 1(3B) of the 1967 Act. Article 4(5) prohibits the landing in Scotland of any berried velvet crab which is caught in the territorial sea (0 – 12 nautical mile limits) of the UK adjacent to Scotland. Article 4(6) and (7) provides for exemptions to these prohibitions in relation to landings from foreign fishing boats.

Article 5(1) of the Order prescribes a minimum size for the landing of male spider crab in Scotland. Article 5(2) provides that there is an exemption from this minimum landing size in relation to landings from foreign fishing boats. The effect of this provision, as combined with section 1(1) of the 1967 Act, is to prohibit the landing in Scotland of any male spider crab which does not meet the requirements as to minimum size.

Article 6(1) of the Order prescribes a minimum size for the landing of green crab in the Orkney Islands. Article 6(2) provides that there is an exemption from this minimum landing size in relation to landings from foreign fishing boats. The effect of this provision, as combined with section 1(1) of the 1967 Act, is to prohibit the landing in Scotland of any green crab which does not meet the requirements as to minimum size.

Article 7(1), (2), (3) and (4) of the Order prescribes minimum sizes for the landing of lobster in different parts of Scotland. Article 7(5), (6) and (7) of the Order prescribes maximum sizes for the landing of female lobster in different parts of Scotland. The effect of these provisions, as combined with section 1(1) of the 1967 Act, is to prohibit the landing in Scotland of lobster which do not meet the relevant requirements as to minimum or maximum size. Article 7(8) prescribes a minimum size for the sale, exposure or offer for sale or possession in Scotland. The effect of this provision, as combined with section 1(2) of the 1967 Act, is to prohibit the selling, exposure or offering for sale or possession of any lobster in Scotland which does not meet the requirements as to minimum size. Article 7(9) and (10) prohibits UK fishing boats other than Scottish fishing boats from carrying lobster within the Scottish zone if they measure less than a prescribed minimum size. A similar prohibition applies to Scottish fishing boats, by virtue of article 7(9) and section 1(3B) of the 1967 Act. Article 7(11) prohibits the landing in Scotland of any female lobster with a missing or partly missing crusher or cutter claw which is caught in specified inshore waters around the Outer Hebrides. Schedule 6 specifies the geographical extent of these waters. Article 7(12) and (13) provide for exemptions to these prohibitions in relation to landings from foreign fishing boats.

Schedules 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 include diagrams which demonstrate how an edible crab, a velvet crab, a spider crab, a green crab and a lobster, respectively, are to be measured to determine its size.

Offences and penalties are prescribed in section 1(7) and (8), section 6(5) and section 11 of the 1967 Act. Common enforcement powers are set out in Part 3 of the Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Act 2013 (asp 7) and Part 7 of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 5).

This Order is made in accordance with the procedure set out in Article 46 of the Council Regulation which authorises Member States to take certain national measures for the conservation and management of local stocks.