BDB Pitmans acts for Natural Resources Wales promoting new Byelaws

BDB Pitmans acted for longstanding client Natural Resources Wales, promoting the Wales Rod and Line (Salmon and Sea Trout) Byelaws 2017 and the Wales Net Fishing (Salmon and Sea Trout) Byelaws 2017.

Scrutiny of the proposed Byelaws culminated in a four week public inquiry in early 2019. The Byelaws propose stricter regulation of fisheries on all Welsh rivers including a ban on catch and kill fishing for salmon and sea trout for a period of 10 years, in order to address the severe decline in stocks of these species.

On 16 July 2019, the Welsh Government announced that it would confirm the Byelaws. This decision followed the Inspector’s recommendation. He concluded that the Byelaws were necessary, proportionate and reasonable in view of the decline of salmon and sea trout stocks throughout Wales.