Potting Permit Byelaw 2020 – Commercial Permits

Invitation to Owners of Registered and Licensed Fishing Vessels to Apply for Permits

The NWIFCA Potting Permit Byelaw 2020 was submitted to Defra for final sign off on 15th February 2022, having been through the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) quality assurance process with the recommendation that the byelaw is confirmed by the Secretary of State. It is likely that the byelaw will be confirmed in the following month/s. NWIFCA is inviting stakeholders who commercially fish with pots from a registered and licenced fishing vessels to apply for a Category 1 permit using the application form below.

The NWIFCA is continuing to carry out the administrative exercise prior to the byelaw being signed to ensure the byelaw can be practically implemented as swiftly as possible once the Secretary of State confirms the byelaw.

No payments will be accepted until the byelaw is confirmed, at which point providing all the requirements for obtaining a permit have been met, applicants will be contacted to make payment.

All permits will be valid for the period 1 October to 30 September the following year. Upon confirmation of the byelaw, the first permit shall be valid for the remainder of the first 12 months to 30 September, and to 30 September in the subsequent year.

No permits will be issued until payments have been processed.

To assist applications the Byelaw and Flexible Permit Conditions are provided in the format sent to Secretary of State for sign off. A guidance document explaining Category One permits can be downloaded below.

Those who have already applied for a Category One Permit, a letter has been sent stating where your application is up to and if NWIFCA require any further information.

View Byelaw 4 – Potting Permit (PDF)
View Flexible Permit Conditions (PDF)
Download Category 1 Application Form (Word Document)
View Category 1 Permit Guidance (PDF) – To be added ASAP