The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has introduced the Shellfish Gathering (Conservation) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2026, establishing a closed season for periwinkle gathering in inter‑tidal areas from 1 January to 30 April each year. DAERA told the Assembly the measure would take effect in February 2026 following the making of the rule. (aims.niassembly.gov.uk)
The prohibition applies to taking periwinkles by any means from the inter‑tidal area, defined as the zone between the high water mark and the low water mark of ordinary spring tides. “Periwinkles” for these purposes means the species Littorina littorea. The measure is framed as a conservation control and applies annually across Northern Ireland’s shorelines.
An exemption exists for work carried out under a DAERA permit issued pursuant to section 14 of the Fisheries Act (Northern Ireland) 1966. This covers tightly defined activities for scientific purposes or the improvement of a fishery and only in line with written permit conditions. Applications must be submitted at least 28 days before the operation start date to DAERA’s Inland Fisheries Statutory Approvals team at IF.StatutoryPermissions@daera-ni.gov.uk. (legislation.gov.uk)
For commercial gatherers and exporters, this is a predictable four‑month pause on shore‑based harvesting each year. Operators should adjust procurement and export schedules for January to April, brief staff and contractors who collect on foot, and update local signage or buyer information to reflect the new closed season. Recreational collecting is also in scope when it involves taking periwinkles from the inter‑tidal area.
DAERA’s 2022 call for evidence on inter‑tidal shellfish gathering highlighted risks to stocks and sensitive habitats. Officials told MLAs that a January to April closure aligns with the peak spawning period for periwinkles and noted that 86% of respondents supported that timing. (daera-ni.gov.uk)
The Department also indicated the fishery’s scale: about 400 tonnes of periwinkles processed in one year with a value north of £3 million, largely for export to markets such as France over winter. Officials said the seasonal closure should not materially disrupt that trade. (aims.niassembly.gov.uk)
Outside Belfast Lough, inter‑tidal hand‑gathering had previously been largely unregulated. The new rule introduces a consistent Northern Ireland‑wide control, complementing the longstanding prohibition on shellfish gathering along the shores of Belfast Lough under the Belfast Corporation Act 1930. (aims.niassembly.gov.uk)
Key dates for compliance in year one are specific. The statutory rule was made on 6 January 2026 and comes into operation on 6 February 2026. That means the 2026 closed period runs from 6 February to 30 April. From 2027 onwards, the prohibition will apply from 1 January to 30 April each year. The regulation is not retrospective.
Where activity is for research or restoration, applicants should prepare a section 14 submission early, setting out methods, maps and dates, and wait for written authorisation before any collection during the closed season. For commercial operations, plan shore gathering for the May–December window and confirm that suppliers are aware of the prohibition. (northernireland.gov.uk)
DAERA is also preparing Fisheries Management Plans. A Non‑Quota Shellfish plan is due in 2026 and an Inter‑tidal Hand‑gathering plan is expected in 2027. The periwinkle closure sits within this wider programme to formalise inshore fisheries management. (daera-ni.gov.uk)