Closed Areas Byelaw 2021: formal consultation
The deadline for responding to this consultation is 1630hrs on 17 November 2025.
The Authority intends to submit the Closed Area Byelaw 2021 to the Secretary of State for confirmation. This formal consultation is intended to gather views about the byelaw before it is submitted. The views of respondents will be carefully considered and will either result in changes to the byelaw or a response as to why a change is not appropriate.
The Closed Areas Byelaw 2021 is intended to replace the Marine Protected Areas Byelaw 2018. The byelaw will prohibit specified fishing activities (primarily use of bottom-towed-gear but also hand-gathering in two areas) over sensitive habitats. The intention of the byelaw is to prevent significant impacts to site integrity of Marine Protected Areas.
The proposed byelaw includes additional closed areas, revisions to existing closed areas, an artisanal shrimp fishing area and a seasonal corridor where use of bottom-towed-gear is permitted seasonally. The closed areas are summarized in the table below.
| Restricted Areas | Changes compared to the Marine protected Areas Byelaw 2018 | Link to associated chart |
|---|---|---|
| Areas 1-13 in The Wash + 53 | Areas 1-12 are carried over from the previous byelaw. Area 13 has been revised (made smaller) to reflect the reduction in the size of the feature which is proacted. Closed Area 53 has been added for the protection of Sabellaria reef in The Wash. The prohibition in this area includes use of bottom towed gear and hand-working. | Chart 1 |
| Areas 14-29 + 52 in The Wash | Areas 14 to 29 are carried over from the previous byelaw with the exception of area 23 which has been removed. Area 52 has been added for the protection of circalittoral rock in The Wash. | Chart 2 |
| Areas 31 – 34 on the North Norfolk Coast | Four small areas which were closed to bottom-towed-gear between Wells and Blakeney have been replaced by a single larger closure which includes a seasonal corridor which permits use of bottom-towed-gear between 1 April and 18 October each year. | Chart 3 |
| Areas 35, 59, 60 and the Artisanal shrimp management area | These closures in part overlap with existing closures to bottom-towed-gear in place under Byelaw 12 (trawling restrictions). The closures include an exemption for artisanal shrimp fishing which enables small scale fishing activity in accordance with the Artisanal Shrimp Management Policy | Chart 4 |
| Areas 36-38, 61- 72 within the Haisborough Hammond and Winterton Special Area of Conservation | These are all additional closures to bottom-towed-gear for the protection of Sabellaria reef. | Chart 5 & 6 |
| Areas 40-51, 54-58, 73 and 74 | These are all additional closures to bottom-towed-gear for the protection of Sabellaria reef. | Chart 7 |
| Area 39 | This area has been revised to reflect the reduction in the size of the area where the feature (eelgrass) was located. The closure applies to bottom-towed-gear and hand gathering. | Chart 8 |
The full wording of the byelaw and the associated impact assessment can be found at the links below.
To provide any objections or general comments regarding the proposed byelaw, please respond in writing by 1630hrs on 17 November 2025 to the CEO of Eastern IFCA, 6 North Lynn Business Village, Bergen Way, King’s Lynn, PE30 2JG, or by email to mail@eastern-ifca.gov.uk.
Please also send a copy to Marine Conservation and Enforcement Team, Marine Management Organisation, Lancaster House, Hampshire Court, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, NE4 7HY or by email to IFCAbyelaws@marinemanagement.org.uk.