Welcome to the Poole and District Fishermen’s Association
Poole and District Fishermen’s Association has
over 90 members and can trace its origins back
to a 1903 agreement when the fishermen of Poole
were granted the right to use an area to the
East of Town Quay.
PDFA are responsible for the management of the
Fish Landing Area, the Fishermen’s Slipway and
the 120 berth Fishermen’s Boat Haven. They act
as agents for Poole Harbour Commissioners in the
collection of dues and mooring fees.
PDFA members include potters, netters, clam
dredgers, worm draggers, angling and dive
charters and shellfish farmers.
There are 79 registered fishing vessels
operating from Poole Harbour. Half of these
pursue the clam and cockle fishery and the rest
of the fleet are day boats using static nets and
pots to catch crab, lobster, sole, plaice, bass,
mullet and whelks.
Several barges and workboats are based at the
Boat Haven, servicing the shellfish farms in the
Harbour.
Approximately 25 charter boats work from Poole,
making it one the most popular angling
destinations in the country, due to the ease of
access and diversity of species.
PDFA exists to support it’s members in their
commercial endeavours and to represent their
views at a local and national level. PDFA has
good contacts within the government departments
and NGO’s that oversee the fishing industry and
PDFA always partakes in the consultation process
when legislative changes are proposed.