Recreational fishing (predominantly with rod and line) from shore or at sea from boats. Does not include pot or creel fisheries, which are dealt with under a separate activity heading.
Throughout the Berwickshire and Northumberland coast. Popular locations include St Abbs, Eyemouth, Cullernose Point, Bamburgh, Dunstanburgh, Amble, Blyth and Tynemouth. Often occurs on piers, wrecks or areas of rocky reef.
All year round
Organisation | Description of powers or responsibilities |
River Tweed Commission |
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Environment Agency |
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Northumberland Inshore Fisheries & Conservation Authority |
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Marine Directorate (Scottish Government) |
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Marine Management Organisation |
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A number of legal powers, duties, or regulatory tools exist which are relevant to this activity and its management. These are summarised in the table below:
Legislation | Relevant Legal Power or Responsibility | Lead Organisation(s) |
Scotland Act 1998 (River Tweed Order) 2006 | Regulation of angling activity for freshwater migratory fish species within Tweed and Eye Fisheries District | The River Tweed Commission |
Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975 | Regulation of angling activity for freshwater migratory fish species to south of the Tweed and Eye Fisheries District | Environment Agency |
Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (Sections 155-162) | Powers for IFCAs to creation and enforce fisheries Bylaws | Northumberland IFCA |
Water Resources Act 1981 (Section 115) | Powers for the Environment agency to create and enforce fisheries Bylaws | Environment Agency |
Restrictions on Bass fishing | Northumberland IFCA | |
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) (Schedule 5) | Legal protection of shad | Marine Management Organisation |
The Tope (Prohibition of Fishing) Order 2008 | Prohibition on taking of tope | Northumberland IFCA |
The following guidance, codes, plans or strategies are also relevant to the management of this activity:
Name | Description | Responsible Organisation | Statutory or Non-Statutory? |
Guidelines for Recreational Angling | The aim of the guide is to provide a brief introduction to the Northumberland Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority and the existing regulations relevant to recreational sea angling within the NIFCA district. http://www.nifca.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/NIFCA-Guidelines-recreational-fishing-March-2016.pdf | Northumberland IFCA | Non-Statutory |
A number of legal powers, duties, or regulatory tools exist which are relevant to this activity and its management. These are summarised in the table below:
Legislation | Relevant Legal Power or Responsibility | Lead Organisation(s) |
Scotland Act 1998 (River Tweed Order) 2006 | Regulation of angling activity for freshwater migratory fish species within Tweed and Eye Fisheries District | The River Tweed Commission |
The Shellfish (Restrictions on Taking by Unlicensed Fishing Boats) (Scotland) Order 2017 | Restrictions on catch sizes of certain shellfish from unlicensed fishing boats | Marine Directorate |
Restrictions on Bass fishing | Marine Directorate | |
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) (Schedule 5) | Legal protection of shad | Marine Directorate |
The Tope (Prohibition of Fishing) Order 2008 | Prohibition on taking of tope | Marine Directorate |
The following guidance, codes, plans or strategies are also relevant to the management of this activity:
Name | Description | Responsible Organisation | Statutory or Non-Statutory? |
Berwickshire Marine Reserve (BMR) Code of Conduct | The Code of Conduct for the Berwickshire Marine Reserve (BMR) has a voluntary prohibition against spear fishing | Berwickshire Marine Reserve | Non-Statutory |
Regulation of angling
Sea fishing does not generally require a licence unless certain species are caught and kept. A licence is required to retain salmon and sea trout, whether caught in fresh or in salt water. The River Tweed Commission (RTC) regulates angling activity for freshwater migratory fish from an area just north of Cocksburnspath in Berwickshire down to just north of Holy Island in Northumberland and out to 5km offshore. They operate within the the Tweed and Eye Fisheries District which stretches from just north of Cockburnspath in Berwickshire, down to just north of Holy Island in Northumberland, and out to five kilometres offshore. South of the Tweed and Eye Fisheries District, the Environment Agency (EA) is responsible for regulating rod licences and the sea fishery (migratory species only) within six miles of the coast.
The River Tweed Commission’s Angling Codes can be found at https://rtc.org.uk/html/tweed_codes.html
Environment Agency Rod Fishing Bylaws can be viewed at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/environment-agency-rod-fishing-byelaws-north-east-region
There are also restrictions on retaining a number of other fisheries due to there conservation status:
1st – 31st January: 2 x bass (42cm or over) per fisher per day
1st February – 31st March: Catch and release only
1st April – 31st December: 2 x bass (42cm or over) per fisher per day
No fixed or drift nets for recreational fishing.
These rules apply if you are fishing from a boat or from the shore. For more details see https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bass-industry-guidance-2025/bass-fishing-guidance-2025#recreational-bass-fishing
Anglers are also subject to NIFCA Bylaws and must adhere to minimum sizes for fish. The use of brown crab as bait is also prohibited. NIFCA size limits for fish species are widely publicised. http://www.nifca.gov.uk/minimum-sizes/
NIFCA have produced a guide for recreational angling. The aim of the guide is to provide a brief introduction to the Northumberland Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority and the existing regulations relevant to recreational sea angling within the NIFCA district.
Management of bycatch and fishing-related litter
Northumberland IFCA provide support to the Anglers National Line Recycling Scheme (ANLRS). The Scheme provide a route to recycle angling line including braided fishing lines, monofilament and fly lines via recycling bins in tackle shops and other convenient locations along the coast.
Fishing-related litter is collected from a number of beaches as part of beach-cleans undertaken by a range of individuals and organisations. See the litter section of this toolkit for more information.
The Berwickshire and Northumberland Marine Nature Partnership will begin to collate records of instances of eider bycatch from recreational fisheries as part of their Eider Aware Project.
Management of impacts from bait collection
See separate section on hand-gathering
Regulation of angling
Sea fishing does not generally require a licence unless certain species are not caught and kept. A licence is required to retain salmon and sea trout, whether caught in fresh or in salt water. The River Tweed Commission (RTC) regulates angling activity for freshwater migratory fish from an area just north of Cocksburnspath in Berwickshire down to just north of Holy Island in Northumberland and out to 5km offshore. They operate within the Tweed and Eye Fisheries District which stretches from just north of Cockburnspath in Berwickshire, down to just north of Holy Island in Northumberland, and out to five kilometres offshore.
The River Tweed Commission’s Angling Codes can be found at https://rtc.org.uk/html/tweed_codes.html
There are also restrictions on retaining a number of other fisheries due to their conservation status:
1st – 31st January: 2 x bass (42cm or over) per fisher per day
1st February – 31st March: Catch and release only
1st April – 31st December: 2 x bass (42cm or over) per fisher per day
No fixed or drift nets for recreational fishing.
These rules apply if you are fishing from a boat or from the shore. For more details see https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bass-industry-guidance-2025/bass-fishing-guidance-2025#recreational-bass-fishing
Regulations are in place restrict the numbers of certain shellfish species (scallop, crab, nethrops and lobster) that can be taken by unlicensed fishing boats on a daily basis. https://www.gov.scot/Topics/marine/Sea-Fisheries/InshoreFisheries/unlicensed
The Code of Conduct for the St Abbs and Eyemouth Voluntary Marine Reserve (VMR) has a voluntary prohibition against spear fishing
Management of bycatch and fishing-related litter
The Anglers National Line Recycling Scheme (ANLRS) provides a route to recycle angling line including braided fishing lines, monofilament and fly lines via recycling bins in tackle shops and other convenient locations along the coast.
Fishing-related litter is collected from a number of beaches as part of beach-cleans undertaken by a range of individuals and organisations. See the litter section of this toolkit for more information.
Management of impacts from bait collection
See separate section on hand-gathering
More information is needed about the location of angling activity and hotspots for angling-related litter and their overlap with sensitive areas within inshore MPAs.