New hand-gathering byelaw announcement

Sarah Ward

Marine Conservation Officer 

Last week, the Sussex Inshore Fisheries & Conservation Authority (IFCA) announced that their byelaw on hand-gathering in the district had come into force. The byelaw creates new restrictions on what can be taken by hand from Sussex shores; it has been created to protect sensitive species and habitats from potential damage caused by overharvesting.

The new restrictions apply to anyone collecting bait, shellfish, or otherwise foraging in the intertidal zone – so it’s important to know what the limits are and whether you may need to apply for a permit.

Hand gathering permits are required by anyone intending to gather the specified species above the daily bag limits; these can be applied for on the Sussex IFCA website. Some species are specified in the byelaw as strictly off-limits; these are piddocks (Pholadidae), Native Oyster (Ostrea edulis) and kelp (Laminaria digitata and Sacchorina latissima).

We are pleased to see this important byelaw now being in place, having strongly supported it during its consultation phase. This kind of management plays a vital role in protecting habitats and species on our coastline.