Enforcement Notices
Notification of inspection and seizure of fishing gear
Notice of Inspection and Seizure
The following fishing gear has been inspected and seized by Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority:
20 plastic whelk pots
Identifying Markings: 18 pots have no identifying marks
Inspection and seizure details:
Date: 15/02/2023
Time: 12:15
Position found (Lat/Long) 52° 59’.290N 000° 11’.880E
Inspecting Officers: M Breathwick, J Pegden
On inspection, this gear has failed to comply with EIFCA Bylaws and has been seized.
Offence(s): breach of whelk permit byelaw 2016
Further action
Eastern IFCA may retain the seized item(s) for the purpose of an investigation including identifying the owner. If the seized item(s) are not claimed within 3 months, they may be disposed of.
If you wish to claim ownership of the seized items, please contact the EIFCA Office at the following:
Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority
Unit 6 Bergen Way
North Lynn Business Village
King’s Lynn
PE30 2JG
Email: mail@eastern-ifca.gov.uk
Tel: 01553 775321
Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009
Part 8 — Enforcement
Chapter 4 — Fisheries enforcement powers
264 Power to inspect and seize objects at sea
(1) For the purposes of carrying out any relevant functions, an enforcement officer who has the power conferred by this section may inspect any object in the sea which the officer believes has been or is being used for or in connection with fishing. The officer may lift an object out of the sea for the purposes of inspecting it under this section.
(2) An enforcement officer who has inspected an object under this section may seize the object.
(3) The power conferred by subsection (2) may only be exercised—
(a) for the purposes of determining whether a relevant offence has been committed, or
(b) in relation to an object which an enforcement officer reasonably
believes to be evidence of the commission of a relevant offence.
(4) If, having inspected an object under this section, the officer decides not to seize it under subsection (2), the officer must, if it is reasonably practicable to do so, replace the object in the location where it was found.
(5) If it is not reasonably practicable to replace the object in accordance with subsection (4), the officer may seize the object until such time as it may be collected by its owner.
(6) Any power conferred by this section to seize an object includes power to seize—
(a) anything that is attached to the object;
(b) anything that is contained within the object.
(7) Any reference in this section to replacing an object includes, in the case of fishing gear, a reference to re-setting the gear in the same way in which it was placed in the sea.
(8) The powers conferred on an enforcement officer by this section are without prejudice to any powers exercisable by the officer apart from this section.