Pots and Traps

Within the  Cornwall IFCA district you must comply with local byelaws and National legislation.


Cornwall IFCA byelaws relevant to the use of pots and traps are listed below. If you would like any guidance or advice on the fisheries legislation applied within the Cornwall IFCA district, please  contact us.



Cornwall IFCA byelaws on the use of pots and traps


Lobster, Crawfish and Crab Fishing Permit byelaw
The Cornwall IFCA shellfish permit is available to registered and licensed vessels only. Without a permit you are not allowed to remove more than a maximum of five shellfish per day from the species lobster, crawfish, edible crab and spider crab, with no more than two of these five being from the lobster and crawfish species combined.


Shellfish Boats byelaw

The maximum overall length for a boat which is fishing for shellfish in the district is 16.46m.


Minimum sizes for fish and shellfish 
A number of minimum fish and shellfish sizes are introduced by Cornwall IFCA byelaws these are in addition to those minimum sizes resulting from National Legislation.

Full list of minimum sizes which apply in Cornwall

Specified Fish Sizes byelaw

Crabs byelaw

Lobster byelaw

Crawfish byelaw

Spider Crab byelaw


Parts of Crab byelaw

Claws must not be deliberately detached from an edible crab or spider crab which is caught using a pot within the Cornwall IFCA district. If using nets to catch shellfish, please refer to our  netting guidance  for information on retaining parts of crab. 

Please note there is also National Legislation which makes it an offence to retain onboard or land parts of a lobster or crawfish.


Berried Lobsters and Crawfish byelaw
Berried crawfish and lobsters are protected and must be returned to the sea as soon as possible.
Please note there is also National Legislation which makes it an offence to fish for or land berried lobster or crawfish.

Protection of V-notched Lobsters byelaw
V-notched or mutilated lobsters are protected and must be returned immediately to the sea.

Please note there is also National Legislation which makes it an offence to fish for or land a v-notched or mutilated lobster or crawfish.


The Live Wrasse Fishing (Limited Permit) Byelaw 2018
This restricts commercial fishing for live wrasse by introducing a permit system and placing other restrictions on the fishery. You can find out more on the Live Wrasse Fishery section of this website.

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