Mourne Herring Fishery Licences Available From September The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) has announced that licences for the Mourne Herring Fishery will be available from 1 September 2011. Fishing will be restricted to boats not exceeding 40ft (12.2 metres) in overall length using drift nets with a minimum mesh size of 54 mm in accordance with EC Regulation 850/98. Boats of over 40 ft (12.2 metres) in overall length are not allowed to take part in this fishery. The Mourne herring quota for British registered fishing vessels in 2011 has been set at 32.1 tonnes. Fisheries Departments will again allow weekend fishing for Mourne herring. Application forms are available from Fisheries Division, Room 414 Dundonald House, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 3SB Tel: 028 9052 5571 or local Port Offices. All licence applications must be accompanied by a copy of the current Certificate of Registry issued under The Merchant Shipping Act 1995.]]>