6Determination of mesh size

6 Determination of mesh size (1) Where a method for the determination of the mesh size of a net to be used in a fishery is specified in the fishery management plan for that fishery, that method is to be used. Fisheries Regulations 1992 16 (2) To determine the mesh size of finfish trawl gear, the following method is to be used: (a) immediately before the measurement is taken, the part of the net to be measured is to be soaked in fresh or salt water for not less than 5 minutes; (b) the part of the net to be measured is to be suspended vertically; (c) the distance between the surface of a knot and the surface of the opposite knot in the same mesh or, in the case of a mesh without knots, the opposite corners of a mesh is to be measured by means of a device which has 2 arms, the upper of which is fixed and the lower of which: (i) is capable of moving freely in relation to the upper; and (ii) has a weight of 3170 grams acting on it; (d) the device is to be graduated so that the distance between the upper and lower arms of the device can be ascertained to the nearest millimetre; (e) the device is to be suspended so that the upper arm is in contact with the top of the mesh being measured and the lower arm is free to move, allowing the weight acting on the lower arm to pull the mesh taut; (f) the measurement of the mesh is to be taken to be the average measurement of 10 meshes at least 30 cm from each other. (3) To determine the mesh size of a net to which neither subregulation (1) nor (2) applies, the following method is to be used: (a) immediately before the measurement is taken, the part of the net to be measured is to be soaked in fresh or salt water for not less than 5 minutes; (b) a device graduated in millimetres is to be used to measure the distance between opposite knots or, in the case of a mesh without knots, opposite corners of a mesh when the mesh is closed; (c) the mesh is closed when the sides of the mesh are as close to touching each other as practicable by the use of sufficient tension by hand or other means but without the use of such tension as to stretch the net material or the mesh past its natural length; Fisheries Regulations 1992 17 (d) the measurement of the mesh is to be taken to be the average measurement of 10 meshes at least 30 cm from each other.