30th April 2026

Dear Permit Holder

IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ

On 4 March 2026 Defra confirmed that a new shellfish permit byelaw regulation, covering the NEIFCA district had been signed by the Minister of State.

This new byelaw replaces all existing shellfish permit schemes which have been in place since 2007.
Under this new byelaw regulation the old Limited Shellfish Permit, is being replaced by a new Recreational Shellfish Permit. A copy of the byelaw is attached.

ALL PERMIT HOLDERS WITH A 2026 LIMITED SHELLFISH (HOBBY) PERMIT WILL NOW NEED TO REAPPLY FOR A RECREATIONAL SHELLFISH PERMIT UNDER THE NEW BYELAW CONDITIONS

This will be classed as a NEW APPLICATION. 

Applications for the new Recreational Shellfish Permit will open on Tuesday 12 May 2026.

If you are intending to take any of the following species from the NEIFCA district you will require a Recreational Shellfish Permit:

European lobster (Homarus gammarus)
edible crab (Cancer pagurus)
European green crab (Carcinus maenas)
velvet crab (Necora puber)
mussel (Mytilus edulis)
Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus)
common periwinkle (Littorina littorea)
razor clam (Ensis spp)
scallops
pullet carpet shell (Venerupis corrugata)
whelk (Buccinum undatum)

If you intend to catch shellfish using pots you will be restricted to using a maximum of 5 pots with a daily maximum bag limit of two lobsters, 10 crabs and 30 whelks.

Once your application has been processed you will be issued with 5 tags which must be attached to your pots

You must also ensure that you comply with all of the conditions attached to your permit.

In this first year you will not be charged for your permit which will remain valid until 30 April 2027. From 1 May 2027 a £10 charge will be made for each permit.

Further information about the application process will be sent on Monday 11th May. You can continue to fish as normal in the meantime.

Can we respectfully request that you do not contact the office by phone at this time.

For any general questions, in the first instance, please email:

ne-ifca@eastriding.gov.uk and we will come back to you as quickly as possible.


No further information can be provided at this time, please await further instructions on the application process.

Kind Regards

North Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority
Town Hall,
Bridlington,
East Riding of Yorkshire
YO16 4LP

01482 393 515
ne-ifca@eastriding.gov.uk

13.00hrs Sandsend
Low water 21.04hrs, 1.34 metres

Dave Perrett being presented with the Lord Downe cup by Secretary Peter Horbury

08.00hrs Sandsend

Penultimate match of the 2025 - 2026 Season

High water 20.48hrs, 4.75 metres

06.30hrs Sandsend [not a campervan in sight! ☺]
High water 18.07hrs, 5.73 metres

15.30hrs Sansend
Low water 22.04hrs, 0.83 metres

13.50hrs Sandsend [just as the heavens opened!!]
Low water 20.15hrs, 1.85 metres

08.40hrs Sandsend
High water 21.17hrs, 4.19 metres

07.20hrs Sandsend
High water 18.58hrs, 5.17 metres

16.00hrs Sandsend
High water 16.51hrs, 5.713 metres

14.30hrs Sandsend
Low water 21.10hrs, 1.11 metres

09.32hrs Sandsend
High water 22.12hrs, 4.60 metres

07.30hrs Sandsend
High water 19.07hrs, 5.53 metres

16.00hrs Sandsend
Low water 23.07hrs, 0.84 metres

Low water 21.23hrs, 1.59 metres

11.00hrs Sandsend
High water 23.33hrs, 4.14 metres

10.00hrs Oasis Café, Marine Drive, Scarborough
Low water [Whitby] 13.54hrs, 1.97 metres

16.00hrs Sandsend
High water 17.41hrs, 5.76 metres

15.30hrs Sandsend
Low water 22.07hrs, 0.91 metres