Potential Octopus Fishing Emergency Byelaw

Cornwall IFCA is proposing to make an Emergency Byelaw at its quarterly meeting on 12 June 2026.

The purpose of this byelaw is to manage the impact of octopus potting on crustacean (crab and lobster) stocks inside the Cornwall IFCA District.

If the Emergency Byelaw is made it will:

Prohibit over 10m multi-hull vessels and over 12m mono-hull vessels from using pots to fish for octopus within the Cornwall IFCA District.

It will come into force on 1 July 2026 and it will last for 12 months.

We would like your views on this emergency byelaw.  Your responses will be reported to the authority on 12 ^th June as part of the information that our Members will consider before making a decision on this emergency byelaw.

Please respond by email to enquiries@cornwall-ifca.gov.uk with your responses to the questions below. Please write “octopus” in the subject line of the email.

Please respond by 17:00 hours on 9 ^th June 2026.

Question 1:  Are you fishing commercially inside the Cornwall IFCA District? 

·       Yes

·       No

Question 2:  If yes, what fishing method are you using? 

·       Potting

·       Netting

·       Trawling

·       Dredging

·       Hook and line

·       Other: please state

Question 3:  Is your vessel?

·       Multi-hull

·       Mono-hull

·       I do not fish from a vessel

Question 4:  Is your vessel?

·       Under 10m

·       10-12m

·       Over 12m

Question 5:  Are you currently fishing for, or intending to fish for, octopus inside the Cornwall IFCA District?  

·       Yes

·       No

Please add any comments about your fishing.

Question 6:  If yes, how many pots are you using or intending to use for octopus?

·       <100

·       100-499

·       500-1000

·       >1000

Question 7:  Is this a change to your normal method of fishing?  

·       Yes

·       No

Question 8:  If you are not fishing for octopus, has your fishing activity been affected by octopus potting?  

·       Yes

·       No.

Please add any comments

Question 9:  Do you agree that over 10m multi-hull vessels and over 12m mono-hull vessels should be prohibited from using pots to fish for octopus within the Cornwall IFCA District?

·       Yes

·       No

Question 10:  If your business will be affected by this emergency byelaw, please provide any information that would support your concerns.