The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, has issued a crab fisheries management and conservation notice off the south and south-west Irish coast.
The immediate closure of the edible crab (Cancer pagurus) and spider crab (Maja squinado) fisheries within Ireland’s Biologically Sensitive Area (BSA) came into force at 16:55 hours on November 11th.
The Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) says that masters of Irish sea-fishing vessels 10 metres or greater in length are prohibited from fishing for, retaining on board, or transhipping edible crab or spider crab within the BSA as defined by the notice.
“By way of derogation, vessels that already have crab or spider crab on board within the BSA may retain and land their catch up to 16:55 hours on November 14th, 2025,” it said.
“After this time, no retention or landing of crab species from the area will be permitted," it said.
"The BSA is defined as the waters off the south and southwest coast of Ireland,” it said.
The SFPA says that for assistance or further details, please contact: sfpafood&[email protected].
