DEFRA have confirmed the tope byelaw requested by the Eastern Sea Fisheries Joint Committee within their district (see below), making removal of tope illegal within the Sea Fishery Committee's District.
Unfortunately, although a number of Sea Fisheries Committees have a similar byelaw in place, the neighbouring Kent & Essex SFC declined a proposal to make a similar byelaw, covering their district.
DEFRA recently consulted on proposals to protect tope around the country, and recieved many responses in favour of national protection, however although the responses have been analysed, work by DEFRA on the proposals has been suspended because of lack of resources and the priority of other unrelated issues.
Wording of the byelaw now applicable in the ESFJC district:
BYELAW 14:- PROHIBITION ON THE REMOVAL OF TOPE OR PART(S) THEREOF
"No person shall remove from a fishery any tope of the species (Galeorhinus galeus) or part(s) thereof which is detached from the body.
Any tope, if caught, shall be returned immediately to the sea in a postion as near to that part of the sea from which it was taken.
(Contact details and links to the websites of the various SFCs can be found at: http://www.asfc.org.uk/ )
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