Description

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.

Key locations

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.

Frequency of Activity

All year round

Potential issues

  • Removal of species
  • Disturbance to habitats and birds
  • Angling-related litter and entanglement of birds and marine mammals
  • Bait digging (see separate section)

Features of Marine Protected Areas which might be affected

  • Reefs
  • Sea caves
  • Sand and mud flats
  • Inlets and bays
  • Grey seal
  • Birds (wintering and breeding)

Organisations with relevant management powers or responsibilities 

 

Organisation  Description of powers or responsibilities 
River Tweed Commission 
  • Regulation of capture of migratory freshwater fish (salmon and trout) 
Environment Agency 
  • Regulation of capture for migratory freshwater fish (salmon and trout) 
  • Creation of fishery byelaws 
Northumberland Inshore Fisheries & Conservation Authority 
  • Enforcement of minimum landing sizes 
  • Enforcement of legal protection of tope and of restrictions on bass fishing 
  • Creation of byelaws 
Marine Scotland 
  • Enforcement of legal protection of shad 
Marine Management Organisation 
  • Enforcement of legal protection of shad 

 

Relevant Legislation (England)

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

The Sea Fisheries (Amendment etc.) Regulations 2021

The Sea Fisheries (Amendment etc.) (No. 2) Regulations 2021

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

Relevant Guidance, Plans or Codes (England)

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

Relevant Legislation (Scotland)

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 Scotland

The Sea Fisheries (Amendment etc.) Regulations 2021

The Sea Fisheries (Amendment etc.) (No. 2) Regulations 2021

Restrictions on Bass fishing Marine Scotland
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) (Schedule 5) Legal protection of shad Marine Scotland
The Tope (Prohibition of Fishing) Order 2008 Prohibition on taking of tope Marine Scotland

Relevant Guidance, Plans or Codes (Scotland)

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

Details of Current Management (England)

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:

  • European eel (Anguilla anguilla): An Environment Agency byelaw prevent anglers from retaining eels. However, they can be retained for weighing or measuring but must be returned alive to the water they were taken from on completion of fishing
  • Shad: Under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) it is illegal to deliberately kill, injure or take allis shad (Alosa alosa) or twaite shad (Alosa fallax).
  • Tope: The Tope (Prohibition of Fishing) Order 2008 provides a national restriction on landing tope caught from a boat by rod and line. Any boat-caught tope are legally required to be released as soon as possible after capture.
  • Bass: Recreational fisheries for bass are limited to catch-and-release only during 01 January to 29 February and 1 December to 31 December. From 1 March to 30 November, not more than two seabass may be retained per fisherman per day. For more details see https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bass-industry-guidance-2022/bass-fishing-guidance-2021 

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

Details of Current Management (Scotland)

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:

  • Shad: Under Section 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) it is illegal to deliberately kill, injure or take allis shad (Alosa alosa) or twaite shad (Alosa fallax).
  • Tope: The Tope (Prohibition of Fishing) Order 2008 provides a national restriction on landing tope caught from a boat by rod and line. Any boat-caught tope are legally required to be released as soon as possible after capture.
  • Bass: Recreational fisheries for bass are limited to catch-and-release only during 01 January to 29 February and 1 December to 31 December. From 1 March to 30 November, not more than two seabass may be retained per fisherman per day. For more details see https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bass-industry-guidance-2022/bass-fishing-guidance-2021 

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

Gaps in Knowledge or Management (England and Scotland)

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.