Regulations in Ireland

[fla]

Lads, i could do with some help, ive been freediving for a few years and spearing for the last couple. Ive heard that there is a byelaw that allows the collecting of scallops without the use of artifical air supply but i dont know if its true or not. Ive already had a couple of run ins with baliffs and if i thought it was illegal i would pack it in altogether, but if it is true i want to ram it down their necks and politely ask them to leave me alone. I just go for the feed, (and not very often, i love scallops but more than three and im stuffed) and i stick to the size limit everytime. To be honest im sick of their gestapo ways and i would love to have one up on the *******s. On a lighter note, any heads from the galway county area spearing????????
Any info is a great help
Thanks Thomas.

 

[Huan]

There is a byelaw that prohibits the use of Apparatus to collect shellfish.
BUT in Galway there are a number of areas that are licensed to local cooperatives to grow scallops, and what you may find is that the area you are in actually is farmed by someone.
Have a search through my old posts and the regulation and year should be in there somewhere.

 

[bobdonny]

Hi and welcome, (I can't answer any of your questions however )

 

[fla]

Sound Huan, thanks for that, there isnt any co-op around where i am so that wont be the problem, its going to be fun next time they challenge me. ha.

 

[Huan]

Just be careful, licenses don't necessarily have to be local, most are but there are some licensed to individuals that don't live in the area.
If you are 100% and you will need to be, then fire away.

 

[fla]

As far as i know there isnt any co-op or single individual doing it. Im in the commercial fishing, aquaculture game anyways so i will have a good sniff around to make sure, i dont want to give them anything. Thanks for the help. Is there any spearfishing events in Ireland at any time?????

 

[Huan]

Not since the 60's.
I rang CFT the Irish equivalent of CMAS which organises spearfishing competition and they were not only incredibly rude and dismissive about the entire freedive/spearfishing idea but actively told me that they wouldn't be happy with the idea.
I put the lady straight about spearfishing and explained what it was and why I would like to participate.
No dice and I would go so far as to say that CFT are not on my christmas card list. I think they basically cater for scuba and anything else is a novelty.
There is a Jersey Open and also one in Norway the Kristiansund cup which would be worth checking out if you are into comps.