on shore lobster pots...

[fishing bairn]

few weeks back i was fishing and caught nout so i went for a look around the beach as i had nothing else to do then something caught my eye... a rope was tied up to the pier so i had a look and 2 lobby pots full of crabs where out there.
Am not saying where this was incase i drop anyone in it.

is this against the law or not i thought you had to have a licence for lobster pots or does that only apply to commercial fishermen?????

cheers