This is taken from an angler asking for the perspective from the ASFC...it was 2008 but believe its still 36cm in Dorset. We are deemed recreational fishermen...
Thank you for your e-mail query regarding the application of Minimum Landing Sizes (MLS) to anglers.
Most MLS's are set out in EC legislation. In our view, however, MLSs prescribed through EC legislation (Council Regulation 850/98 (as amended)) would not apply to recreational fishermen. However, this would be open to interpretation by the courts. You should note that where anglers land significant quantities of fish, the Court may take a view that this constitutes commercial activity and EC law applies.
Article 10 of the Common Fisheries Policy (EC No 2371/2002) enables the UK to take conservation measures that are more restrictive than those set by the EC. This could include MLSs, applicable to both recreational and commercial fishermen, which would be implemented in the UK through a Statutory Instrument made under the powers available in Section 1 of the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967.
Although MLSs have been specified through UK Statutory Instruments in relation to England for a number of shellfish species, as an angler, I assume you will be most interested in finfish species. The Undersized Bass Order 1989, SI 1989/1285 prescribes a MLS of 36cm, and is currently the only finfish species to have an MLS prescribed through UK legislation. .
Sea Fisheries Committees (SFCs) also have powers to make byelaws for the management and conservation of their local district�s fisheries under Section 5 of the Sea Fisheries Regulation Act 1966 and the Sea Fisheries (Byelaws) Regulations 1985. These byelaws may specify local MLSs, which would apply to both commercial and recreational fishermen in the District out to six nautical miles. Cornwall SFC, for example, specifies a higher MLS for bass of 37.5cm within the District, and this would apply to both anglers and commercial fishermen. You should therefore check with the local SFC as to which rules might apply in the areas in which you fish. Contact details can be found at: http://Thank you for your e-mail query regarding the application of Minimum Landing Sizes (MLS) to anglers.
Most MLS's are set out in EC legislation. In our view, however, MLSs prescribed through EC legislation (Council Regulation 850/98 (as amended)) would not apply to recreational fishermen. However, this would be open to interpretation by the courts. You should note that where anglers land significant quantities of fish, the Court may take a view that this constitutes commercial activity and EC law applies.
Article 10 of the Common Fisheries Policy (EC No 2371/2002) enables the UK to take conservation measures that are more restrictive than those set by the EC. This could include MLSs, applicable to both recreational and commercial fishermen, which would be implemented in the UK through a Statutory Instrument made under the powers available in Section 1 of the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967.
Although MLSs have been specified through UK Statutory Instruments in relation to England for a number of shellfish species, as an angler, I assume you will be most interested in finfish species. The Undersized Bass Order 1989, SI 1989/1285 prescribes a MLS of 36cm, and is currently the only finfish species to have an MLS prescribed through UK legislation. .
Sea Fisheries Committees (SFCs) also have powers to make byelaws for the management and conservation of their local district�s fisheries under Section 5 of the Sea Fisheries Regulation Act 1966 and the Sea Fisheries (Byelaws) Regulations 1985. These byelaws may specify local MLSs, which would apply to both commercial and recreational fishermen in the District out to six nautical miles. Cornwall SFC, for example, specifies a higher MLS for bass of 37.5cm within the District, and this would apply to both anglers and commercial fishermen. You should therefore check with the local SFC as to which rules might apply in the areas in which you fish. Contact details can be found at: http://www.asfc.org.uk/
I understand that competition rules and personal angling practices can vary and it would be difficult to make a definitive judgement on the enforcement of the provisions based on one approach to angling. You should be aware however that if you were found to be in possession of an undersized fish, having considered the particular circumstances involved, an enforcement officer may conclude that you are in breach of the regulations. It is, therefore, possible that anglers in possession of undersize fish could be prosecuted. Where minimum landing sizes do not explicitly apply, I would hope that anglers would take a responsible approach and avoid deliberately targeting undersized fish, returning any caught as soon as possible./
I understand that competition rules and personal angling practices can vary and it would be difficult to make a definitive judgement on the enforcement of the provisions based on one approach to angling. You should be aware however that if you were found to be in possession of an undersized fish, having considered the particular circumstances involved, an enforcement officer may conclude that you are in breach of the regulations. It is, therefore, possible that anglers in possession of undersize fish could be prosecuted. Where minimum landing sizes do not explicitly apply, I would hope that anglers would take a responsible approach and avoid deliberately targeting undersized fish, returning any caught as soon as possible.
Thank you for your e-mail query regarding the application of Minimum Landing Sizes (MLS) to anglers.
Most MLS's are set out in EC legislation. In our view, however, MLSs prescribed through EC legislation (Council Regulation 850/98 (as amended)) would not apply to recreational fishermen. However, this would be open to interpretation by the courts. You should note that where anglers land significant quantities of fish, the Court may take a view that this constitutes commercial activity and EC law applies.
Article 10 of the Common Fisheries Policy (EC No 2371/2002) enables the UK to take conservation measures that are more restrictive than those set by the EC. This could include MLSs, applicable to both recreational and commercial fishermen, which would be implemented in the UK through a Statutory Instrument made under the powers available in Section 1 of the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967.
Although MLSs have been specified through UK Statutory Instruments in relation to England for a number of shellfish species, as an angler, I assume you will be most interested in finfish species. The Undersized Bass Order 1989, SI 1989/1285 prescribes a MLS of 36cm, and is currently the only finfish species to have an MLS prescribed through UK legislation. .
Sea Fisheries Committees (SFCs) also have powers to make byelaws for the management and conservation of their local district�s fisheries under Section 5 of the Sea Fisheries Regulation Act 1966 and the Sea Fisheries (Byelaws) Regulations 1985. These byelaws may specify local MLSs, which would apply to both commercial and recreational fishermen in the District out to six nautical miles. Cornwall SFC, for example, specifies a higher MLS for bass of 37.5cm within the District, and this would apply to both anglers and commercial fishermen. You should therefore check with the local SFC as to which rules might apply in the areas in which you fish. Contact details can be found at: http://Thank you for your e-mail query regarding the application of Minimum Landing Sizes (MLS) to anglers.
Most MLS's are set out in EC legislation. In our view, however, MLSs prescribed through EC legislation (Council Regulation 850/98 (as amended)) would not apply to recreational fishermen. However, this would be open to interpretation by the courts. You should note that where anglers land significant quantities of fish, the Court may take a view that this constitutes commercial activity and EC law applies.
Article 10 of the Common Fisheries Policy (EC No 2371/2002) enables the UK to take conservation measures that are more restrictive than those set by the EC. This could include MLSs, applicable to both recreational and commercial fishermen, which would be implemented in the UK through a Statutory Instrument made under the powers available in Section 1 of the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967.
Although MLSs have been specified through UK Statutory Instruments in relation to England for a number of shellfish species, as an angler, I assume you will be most interested in finfish species. The Undersized Bass Order 1989, SI 1989/1285 prescribes a MLS of 36cm, and is currently the only finfish species to have an MLS prescribed through UK legislation. .
Sea Fisheries Committees (SFCs) also have powers to make byelaws for the management and conservation of their local district�s fisheries under Section 5 of the Sea Fisheries Regulation Act 1966 and the Sea Fisheries (Byelaws) Regulations 1985. These byelaws may specify local MLSs, which would apply to both commercial and recreational fishermen in the District out to six nautical miles. Cornwall SFC, for example, specifies a higher MLS for bass of 37.5cm within the District, and this would apply to both anglers and commercial fishermen. You should therefore check with the local SFC as to which rules might apply in the areas in which you fish. Contact details can be found at: http://www.asfc.org.uk/
I understand that competition rules and personal angling practices can vary and it would be difficult to make a definitive judgement on the enforcement of the provisions based on one approach to angling. You should be aware however that if you were found to be in possession of an undersized fish, having considered the particular circumstances involved, an enforcement officer may conclude that you are in breach of the regulations. It is, therefore, possible that anglers in possession of undersize fish could be prosecuted. Where minimum landing sizes do not explicitly apply, I would hope that anglers would take a responsible approach and avoid deliberately targeting undersized fish, returning any caught as soon as possible./
I understand that competition rules and personal angling practices can vary and it would be difficult to make a definitive judgement on the enforcement of the provisions based on one approach to angling. You should be aware however that if you were found to be in possession of an undersized fish, having considered the particular circumstances involved, an enforcement officer may conclude that you are in breach of the regulations. It is, therefore, possible that anglers in possession of undersize fish could be prosecuted. Where minimum landing sizes do not explicitly apply, I would hope that anglers would take a responsible approach and avoid deliberately targeting undersized fish, returning any caught as soon as possible.
I put a write up on after I've been to asda! Hopefully they got a few potatoes for me 
