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Application for a permit to fish for Whelks (Buccinum undatum) with pots in the Welsh zone during the permit period 1 March 2024 to 28 February 2025

 
The Whelk Fishing Permit (Wales) Order 2021 applies in relation to Wales and the Welsh zone including the area of the Welsh zone that lies beyond the seaward limits of the territorial sea.
  1. The Whelk Fishing Permit (Wales) Order 2021 makes provision for a permitting regime in relation to UK and foreign vessels fishing for whelk with pots in the Welsh Zone (the Welsh inshore region and the Welsh offshore region).
     
  2. A permit is required to fish for whelk in the Welsh Zone. An exception applies for vessels under 10 metres in length without means of propulsion or vessels used for recreational fishing.
     
  3. The permit application window will open in December each year, approximately 4 months prior to the start of the permit period and close on the 31 January following. Applications may be submitted after the application window but they may take longer to process. No permits will be issued for a period of less than one month.
     
  4. All applicants must be owners or charterers of fishing vessels licensed to fish in the UK.
     
  5. Where a vessel is owned by more than one person, a single application is required which details all of the owners. A permit may be issued in duplicate to all joint owners.
     
  6. A permit application is required for each vessel and a permit is not transferable between vessels or owners.
     
  7. The annual permitted period will run from 00:01 on 1 March each year to 23:59 on the last day of February the following year. New permits are required for any subsequent permit periods.
     
  8. Permits granted in respect of late applications (received after the application window has closed) will be issued within 20 working days. They will have the same flexible Monthly Catch Limit (MCL) with the same end date and fee as permits applied for in-time.
     
  9. There will be a fee for permits approved for the permit period 1 March 2024 to 28 February 2025.
     
  10. Any permit which may be issued as a result of this application will relate only to The Whelk Fishing Permit (Wales) Order 2021.
     
  11. It is the permit holder’s responsibility to ensure compliance with all other relevant legislation (including fisheries and non-fisheries legislation).
     
  12. Providing false information or making a false statement is a breach of The Whelk Fishing Permit (Wales) Order 2021 which may result in enforcement action.
     
  13. Further information may be found in the Whelk Fishery: guidance 2024 to 2025 on GOV.WALES