Summary
The Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) is seeking your views on its proposal to make a byelaw to prohibit anchoring in Outer Belfast Lough Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ). Full details of the proposal, including information on how to respond, can be found in the consultation document below.
A draft byelaw has been made to accompany the consultation document; this can be viewed by following the link below.
If you wish to receive a copy, please send a request via e-mail at MarinePolicyTeam@daera-ni.gov.uk or call 028 9056 9424.
Documents
- Consultation on Proposed Anchoring Prohibition for Outer Belfast Lough Marine Conservation Zone
- Draft Outer Belfast Lough Marine Conservation Zone Byelaw
Consultation description
The purpose of the proposal is to protect Ocean quahog and its associated habitat from the effects of anchoring in the MCZ and to facilitate the features’ recovery to favourable condition.
This consultation is intended to notify stakeholders of DAERA’s proposal and to gather views on how they may be affected by it. This will inform the final decision on the making of the byelaw. The consultation period commences on 10 November 2026 and will conclude on 15 January 2027.