Last boats required to avoid fishing for velvet crab
The SSMO is entering the final period of this summer’s velvet crab closed season, which ends at midnight on 28th September.
As of Monday 25th August, 14 licence holders had not exercised their right to choose when to start their own four-week closure. Therefore, as set out in the rules, these fishermen are required to stop fishing velvet crabs for the four-weeks from Monday 1st September to midnight on Sunday 28th September.
The SSMO acknowledges that most of these boats are not currently active in the velvet crab fishery anyway so there will be little or no practical impact on their activities.
The Fishery Office has been briefed and is continuing its increased monitoring of the creel fleet. Its inshore fisheries patrol boat is still in Shetland.
The list of boats which must not catch or land velvet crab from 00.01 on 1st September is:
Advance LK 28, Crystal Sea LK 140, Denise LK 229, Divine Star LK 624, Dolphin LK 755, Invictus LK 53, June Rose LK 779, Lady K K1, Laebrak LK 22, Mari Dawn LK 605, Queen of Hearts LK 95, Valentia LK 21, Victory II LK 356, Viora LK 177.
In addition, four licence holders had already selected this final four-week period for their closure. These are: Concord LK 657, Girl Lynsey LK 10, Good Intent LK 120 and Valkyrie LK 623.