Live Consultations

On this page you will find information on our current consultations. If you are a stakeholder with regard to these consultations then please help us get the best management decisions made for our sustainable fisheries and conservation sites..

Consultation archive

Closed; Nearshore Trawling Management Review

We are reviewing the management of nearshore trawling in Sussex District and are consulting on the proposed management byelaw. The consultation closed on the 10th of October 2019.

The Nearshore Trawling Byelaw 2019 establishes a prohibition area along the Sussex coastline of between 1 and 4km (0.54 and 2.16 nautical miles) from mean high water in order to protect nearshore essential fish habitats. The byelaw is intended to improve fishery recruitment through protection of fish/shellfish breeding, feeding and nursery grounds. The byelaw incorporates management requirements for Selsey Bill & the Hounds Marine Conservation zone.

Please see below the documents used during the consultation.

Nearshore Trawling Byelaw
Nearshore Trawling Impact Assessment

Factsheet - Fish habitats, ecosytem services and natural capital
Factsheet - Nearshore Trawling Review
Factsheet - Shifting baselines

Valuing the ecosystem services of kelp, a report by the NEF Consulting

View a short film about the value of Sussex kelp forests here

Closed; District Netting Management Review

We are reviewing the management of commercial and recreational netting in Sussex District and are now consulting on the proposed management byelaw. The consultation closed on the 10th of October 2019.

The Netting Permit Byelaw 2019 establishes a new permit system for both commercial and recreational netters. Under permit conditions a prohibition area is established along the Sussex coast of between 0.5 and 1.5km (0.27 and 0.81 nautical miles) from mean high water in order to protect both migratory and juvenile fish stocks. The byelaw also establishes a year-round 1.5m headrope regulation, prohibition boxes around river mouths & harbours, exemptions for the under 7m vessels to net nearshore, controls on drift netting and the buoyage/marking of nets.

Please see below the documents used during the consultation.

Netting Byelaw, Flexible conditions and Guidance
Netting Impact Assessment

Factsheet - Netting Review
Factsheet - Netting Permits
Factsheet - Gear Marking
Factsheet - Netting Review for River Mouths and Harbours
Existing Keddle Net Licence conditions