Enforcement Policy: Using edible crab (Cancer Pagurus) cooked offal as bait

Byelaw 5 of Eastern IFCA’s byelaw prohibits the use of edible crab (Cancer pagurus) as bait.

This prohibition is intended to protect crab stocks from over-exploitation, particularly the removal of under-size and soft crab to be used as bait. This byelaw was reviewed in 2023 and the Authority agreed to revise the prohibition to allow the use of edible crab where it is cooked offal by way of an amendment to the byelaw. However, the byelaw which would amend this prohibition has yet to be confirmed.

As of 23 February 2026, the Authority will not enforce Byelaw 5: prohibition on the use of edible crab (Cancer Pagurus) as bait where a person is using cooked offal only. Use of edible crab which is not cooked offal remains strictly prohibited and could lead to enforcement action being taken.

The Authority reserves the right to amend or revoke this policy where it is found to pose a risk to fisheries within the district or is no longer considered to be consistent with the Authority’s main duties as set out in the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009.

The full enforcement policy is available here.

If you have any questions about the enforcement policy, please contact us.