Closed area · Welsh Government
Dredging prohibited
The Scallop Fishing (Wales) (No.2) Order 2010 · in force since 2010-03-01
A CAUGHT review has read the instrument behind this closure, rather than relying on the summary published with the boundary. Where the two differ, the instrument governs; this reading was made on 2026-09-01.
Fishing for, taking or killing SCALLOPS — by scallop dredge (Art. 5, at any time within 1 nm of baselines) and by any means including diving during the closed season (Art. 4, 1 May to 31 October inclusive).
This Order prohibits scallop dredging under two separate limbs, and they do not have the same reach. Article 4 closes the area for the season 1 May to 31 October. Article 5 prohibits dredging within 1 nautical mile of the baselines all year round, but binds British vessels only. A date outside the Article 4 season therefore does not put a British vessel inside 1 nautical mile outside the prohibition, and the two limbs have to be read separately.
Same Order, the designated restriction areas. Scallop dredging by British fishing boats prohibited; Article 4 closed season applies to taking scallops by any means.
Fishing for, taking or killing of scallops by the use of a scallop dredge by British fishing boats is prohibited in these areas. No person is to fish for, take or kill scallops in Welsh waters during the period 1 May to 31 October inclusive in each year by any means, including diving.
Summary as published in the source dataset, shown for comparison. A dataset paraphrase can be narrower or wider than the instrument it summarises, and finding out which is the work above.
Vessels are named only on cases that read CAUGHT and have been examined by a reviewer. Every other case is linked without a name: most are resolved, and naming a boat on a page about the closure would carry an accusation the assessment does not support.
What a case here means. A CAUGHT case is a reason to look, not a verdict. Each one is judged on three independent factors — was it fishing, here and then; what gear does the vessel actually use; and what was prohibited there at that time — and the weakest of the three decides. Most cases are resolved.
Boundaries and rule summaries come from the published datasets named at the foot of this page and can contain errors; the legislation is the authority. If you believe this closure is described wrongly, tell us at contact@caught.org.uk.
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