Some areas around our coast have been deemed as Bass Nursery Areas. These areas tend to be around power station warm water outlets, estuaries and Harbours. All these areas are known for being havens for small school bass.
Fishing for bass from any vessel, as well as, fishing for any species of sea-fish using sand-eels (ammodytidae) as bait, is prohibited in 37 separate areas for all or part of the year.
The prohibition on bass fishing in nursery areas does not apply to fishing from the shore. However it is expected that shore anglers and their associations will respect the need for this prohibition and return to the sea any bass caught within nursery areas.
In certain nursery areas, fishing may also be subject to other restrictions implemented by the local sea fisheries committee or the Environment Agency [National Rivers Authority]. Such restrictions may include prohibitions on the setting of fixed nets or restrictions on the use of mobile gear.
Location of bass nursery areas
| The Bass nursery area | Description of area | Period applying in 1990 and subsequent years |
|---|---|---|
| 1.Blyth power station | All tidal waters enclosed by a line in the south bearing 108.5º true from the Blyth Power Station chimneys in transit, to the east by a line bearing 173.5º true from a transit of the Alcan Power Station chimney and the western pylon of the northern pair of measured mile markers and to the north by a line bearing 111º true being a transit of the yellow “X” Northumberland Water Authority pipeline markers | all year |
| 2.Bradwell power station | The area between the Baffle Wall and the Bradwell foreshore enclosed by lines drawn perpendicular (145º true) from the NE and SW corners of the Baffle Wall to the shore | all year |
| 3.Grain power station | The area enclosed by a line drawn 120º true through Grain Martello Tower and Grain Hard buoy to Garrison point, and a line drawn 114º true from the foreshore at Grain power station to the western extremity of the Ro-Ro terminal, and the Isle of Grain and Sheerness foreshores | all year |
| 4.Kingsnorth power station | The area enclosed by Bee Ness jetty and a line drawn 204º true to the tip of Oakham Ness jetty, thence 260º true to the SE tip of Kingsnorth jetty, and along the seaward arm of Kingsnorth jetty and then 298º true to the Kingsnorth power station foreshore | all year |
| 5.Dungeness power station | All tidal waters enclosed by a line drawn 180º true from the eastern end of the Dungeness ‘A’ building to a point 600 m below MLW springs, thence 270º true for a distance of 1 km, thence 000º true to the shore marked by an isolated building “hangar B1” situated between the Dungeness ‘B’ complex and the power station | all year |
| 6.Chichester harbour | All tidal waters enclosed by a line drawn 192º true from Eastoke point to Chichester Bar beacon, then 078º true to Cakeham tower | between 30 april and 1 november |
| 7.Langstone harbour | All tidal waters enclosed by a line drawn 153º true from the Gunnery Range light at Eastney point to Langstone Fairway buoy (50º 46.25N 01º 01.27W), then 033º true to the foreshore east of Gunner point | between 30 april and 1 november |
| 8.Portsmouth harbour | All tidal waters enclosed by a line drawn from Gilkicker point to Southsea castle | between 30 april and 1 november |
| 9.Southampton water | All tidal waters enclosed by a line drawn 090º true from the Cadland foreshore to the Warsash foreshore passing through the north-west extremity of the Esso tanker jetty but excluding those waters above the Redbridge causeway on the river Test | between 30 april and 1 november |
| 10.Fawley power station | The area enclosed by a circle drawn with a radius of 556 metres around the outfall from Fawley power station | all year |
| 11.Poole harbour | All tidal waters enclosed by a line drawn 011º true from Jerry’s point, through Branksea castle to Salterns pier | between 30 april and 1 november |
| 12.The Fleet | all tidal waters of the Fleet inside Ferry bridge | all year |
| 13.River Exe, Devon | All tidal waters enclosed by a line drawn 068º true from Langstone point to Orcombe point | between 30 april and 1 november |
| 14.River Teign | All tidal waters enclosed by a line drawn 000º true from the Ness to the southernmost leading light | between 30 april and 1 november |
| 15.River Dart, Devon | All tidal waters enclosed by a line drawn 064º true from Combe point to Inner Froward point | between 30 april and 1 january |
| 16.Salcombe harbour | All tidal waters enclosed by a line drawn 090º true from Splat point to Limebury point | between 30 april and 1 january |
| 17.River Avon, Devon | All tidal waters enclosed by a line drawn 206º true from Warren point at Bigbury-on-sea to Burgh island, and a line drawn 090º true from the southern tip of Burgh island to the coast | between 30 april and 1 january |
| 18.River Yealm | All tidal waters enclosed by a line drawn 205º true from Season point to Mouthstone point | between 30 april and 1 january |
| 19.Plymouth rivers | All tidal waters enclosed by a line drawn from the western end of Mountbatten pier 268º true to the landing beacon at Wilderness point in the river Tamar | all year |
| 20.River Fowey | All tidal waters enclosed by a line drawn 270º true from Penleath point to the opposite shore | between 30 april and 1 january |
| 21.Fal estuary | All tidal waters enclosed by a line drawn 045º true from Weir point to Turnaware point | between 30 april and 1 january |
| 22.Percuil river | All tidal waters enclosed by a line drawn 151º true from St Mawes castle to Carricknath point | between 30 april and 1 january |
| 23.Helford river | All tidal waters enclosed by a line drawn 199º true from Rosemullion head to Dennis head | between 30 april and 1 january |
| 24.Camel estuary | All tidal waters enclosed by a line drawn 020º true from Stepper point to Pentire point | between 30 april and 1 december |
| 25.River Torridge | All tidal waters enclosed by a line drawn 290º true from Zeta berth to the opposite shore | between 30 april and 1 november |
| 26.River Taw | All tidal waters enclosed by a line drawn 190º true from the western end of Braunton pill to the site of the former power station at Yelland | between 30 april and 1 november |
| 27.Aberthaw power station | All tidal waters enclosed by a line drawn at a radius of 1 nautical mile from Breaksea point | all year |
| 28.Burry inlet | All tidal waters enclosed by a line drawn 071º true from Whiteford lighthouse to Llanelli docks and a line drawn 180º true from Whiteford lighthouse to the shore | between 30 april and 1 november |
| 29.Taf, Tywi and Gwendraeth estuary | All tidal waters enclosed by a line drawn 119º true from Ginst point to Pen Towyn point | between 30 april and 1 november |
| 30.Milford Haven | All tidal waters enclosed by a line drawn from the shore along the eastern side of the Texaco Terminal approach jetty to the southernmost part of the T jetty thence eastwards along the southern edge of the jetty to the extremity at No. 3 berth (51º 41.87N, 04º 57.58W) and then 098º true through the Pennar beacon to the Llanreath foreshore (51º 41.55N, 04º 57.58W) and by a line drawn 162º true along the seaward side of the Pembroke to Neyland road bridge | between 30 april and 1 november |
| 31.Teifi estuary | All tidal waters enclosed by a line drawn from the boathouse, Penrhyn to the Cliff hotel, Gwbert | between 30 april and 1 november |
| 32.River Dyfi | All tidal waters enclosed by a line drawn 168º true from Trefeddian hotel (52º 32.8N, 04º 03.6W) to the flag pole at Ynys Las (52º 31.4N, 04º 03.8W) | between 30 april and 1 november |
| 33.River Mawddach | All tidal waters enclosed by a line drawn 226º true from the flagpole at Barmouth (52º 43.1N, 04º 03.1W) to the perch at 52º 42.7N, 04º 03.7W thence 155º true to the corner of the sea wall at Fairbourne (52º 42.5N, 04º 03.6W) | between 30 april and 1 november |
| 34.Dwyryd/Glaslyn estuary | All tidal waters enclosed by a line drawn 152º true from the White House (52º 54.4N, 04º 09.1W) to Harlech point (52º 53.7N, 04º 08.5W) | between 30 april and 1 november |
| 35.Conwy estuary | All tidal waters enclosed by a line drawn in a northerly direction from Penmaen-bach point 001º true to the most westerly point of Great Ormes head | between 30 april and 1 november |
| 36.Dee estuary | All tidal waters enclosed by a line drawn 213º true from Hilbre point to Mostyn quay | between 31 may and 1 october |
| 37.Heysham power station | All tidal waters enclosed by a line drawn 085º true from No. 7 buoy (54º 01.22N, 002º 56.28W) to the shore, a line drawn 020º true from No. 7 buoy towards the Dolphin (54º 02.40N, 02º 55.52W), and a line drawn 102º true through the leading lights to Heysham harbour | all year |
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Documents
Sussex – Includes Dungeness and Chicester Harbour
Solent – Includes Portsmouth, Hythe, River Hamble, Langstone Harbour, and Chicester Harbour
More Documents will be added as we find them. Please contact us if you know of any other regional documents.
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Full Cefas Bass Nursery Areas Document
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North west and North Wales SFC Bass Nursery Areas Document
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South Wales SFC Guide for Sea Anglers And Recreational fishing – Including Bass Nursery Areas and Minimum sizes
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Solent Bass Nursery areas and Designated Shellfish waters
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