Langstone Harbour supports a small fleet of commercial fishing vessels, which catch a variety of seafood including Clams, Whelks, Oysters and finfish from its waters.
Fishing activity is regulated by the Southern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA). Information about its byelaws can be viewed
here.
Anyone wishing to fish commercially (i.e. sell your catch) within the Southern IFCA District, of which Langstone Harbour is a part, must hold a current Southern IFCA permit, which will be issued to a vessel providing that:
1) It is under 12 metres overall length;
2) It is registered with the
Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)
3) It has a fishing licence (administered by the
Marine Management Organisation (MMO)).
Application forms for a Southern IFCA permit can be requested by telephone, post or email. Full contact details can be viewed by clicking
here.
A Southern IFCA permit is valid for 24 months from the date of issue.
The information below on landing sizes and closed seasons is provided to assist fishermen, but should not be used as a definitive statement of current regulations. Please contact the Southern IFCA on 01202 721373 for further information.
Minimum Landing Sizes in cm
Bass 36.0
Cockle 2.38
Crab (brown) 14.0
Crab (spider) 12.0 (F) 13.0 (M)
Crab (velvet) 6.5
Mackerel 20.0
Mullet (grey) 30.0
Mussel 5.0
Oyster 7.0
Pollack 30.0
Close Seasons
Cockles 1 Feb – 30 Apr
Oysters 1 Mar – 31 Oct
Winkles 15 May – 15 Sep
Bass 30th April - 1st November
SEAGRASS
The seabed in certain areas of Langstone Harbour is home to beds of Seagrass – a rare type of marine plant. Seagrass beds are an extremely important habitat, as not only do they help bind the seabed together to stop it from being eroded by the sea, but also provide a home for many juvenile fish and other marine creatures. Healthy Seagrass beds are important for healthy and productive fish stocks in this region.
As a result of the failure of the Southern IFCA Code of Conduct for Seagrass Protection Areas (which requested fishermen avoided the use of towed gears over Seagrass beds in the Solent), the Marine Management Organisation implemented an Emergency Byelaw to protect Seagrass beds at midnight on the 19th April 2013. Full details of this Emergency Byelaw can be seen
here
