Lobster Escape hatches in Selsey

Summary

There exists an important lobster (Homarus gammarus) fishery, inshore, off Selsey (West Sussex). A fleet of fourteen full-time fishing vessels operates from the fishing station utilising offshore moorings which are afforded protection from the prevailing south-westerly wind by Selsey Bill. The fleet chiefly targets lobsters and crabs and, recently, whelk. In addition, 20 or so part-time boats occasionally use pots. This fishery is managed locally by a byelaw of the Sussex Sea Fisheries District Committee whereby 300 pots per vessel maximum are permitted within the 0-3nm. part of the District. Previous studies by the Sea Fisheries Committee have shown that a high proportion of the pot caught lobsters at Selsey are less than the minimum legal size of 87mm carapace length and are subsequently returned to the sea when the pots are retrieved and cleared. Evidence suggests that the entrapment and subsequent return of lobsters can result in damage and mortality.

Author

• Robert Clark,
• Sussex Sea Fisheries District Committee

Publication Reference No.

10610

Publication date

01 January 2007