Defra are hosting a two part meeting to discuss the proposed highly protected marine area (HPMA) at Allonby Bay. The session will be spread over two days. An evening session on the 6th of September between 17:30 and 19:30, with provide an open forum opportunity for interested parties and a presentation on the planned site. A daytime drop-in session will take place from 09:00 to 17:30 on the 7th of September to give people the opportunity to express their views. We encourage anyone with an interest in this site to come to the open sessions and put forward their views. The venue is: The Maryport Settlement, Castle Hill, High Street, Maryport, CA15 6BQ

On the 16th of November at 10am to 6pm, Blue Marine Foundation will be hosting the online Crab and Lobster Symposium. The meeting will be held via Zoom webinar. If you are interested in attending the event online, please register here: Crab & Lobster Online Symposium Tickets, Wed 16 Nov 2022 at 10:00 | Eventbrite This free online event is open to all and aims to share current knowledge and support ongoing work to safeguard the long-term health of UK crab and lobster populations and sustainable fisheries. You will hear from representatives from the Crab and Lobster Management Group, national government departments, fisheries regulators, researchers and fishermen on our current knowledge of crab and lobster stocks, fishery status, current management measures and future management options. Blue Marine Foundation are particularly keen to hear views from fishermen and will have a dedicated open forum session. This event is the third in a series of Symposia organised by Blue Marine on non-quota fisheries, following the Cuttlefish Symposium held in November 2021 and the Whelk Symposium in June 2022.

At the Technical, Science and Byelaw meeting held on the 2nd of August 2022, it was resolved that the cockle fisheries in Morecambe Bay remain closed from the 1st of September 2022 under paragraph 15 of Byelaw 3.  The decision was based on NWIFCA survey data, which indicated there has been a further decline in both the total biomass of cockle, and density of cockle across the Bay. For further information regarding this decision, the report on this years Morecambe Bay cockle surveys (Agenda Item 10a),  can be found on our website here: August 2nd Technical Science and Byelaw meeting 

Call to all Byelaw 3 permit holders and relevant stakeholders to consult on mussel minimum landing size. At the Technical Science and Byelaw meeting held on the 10th of May 2022, the Authority was asked to consider a reduction to the current minimum landing size (MLS) of mussels (Mytilus edulis) in the District from 45 mm to 40 mm. The purpose of this consultation is to determine the thoughts of Byelaw 3 permit holders and relevant members of industry on a potential reduction in the MLS of mussels. It also offers the opportunity for industry members to provide the Authority with any additional information they believe to be relevant to this matter. We ask that all relevant members of industry complete the questionnaire provided, and return their responses to the Authority by the 17th of July.  The consultation questionnaire is provided below: Click here to complete the Questionnaire through our website Mussel MLS Questionnaire (doc) All responses will be anonymized and presented as aggregate data. Questionnaires can be returned by post to: Science North Western IFCA 1 Preston Street Carnforth LA5 9BY Or, by email to: [email protected]. If you have any queries regarding the questionnaire, please contact the science office…

We are pleased to inform that Byelaw 4 Potting Permit Byelaw 2020 has been signed off by the Secretary of State on the 6th of June. As of the 6th of June, the following byelaws in the NWIFCA District have been revoked: Cumbria Sea Fisheries Committee Byelaw 8 Berried Lobsters 16 April 1993; Cumbria Sea Fisheries Committee Byelaw 25 Requirement for escape Gaps in Pots, Creels and Traps 20 October 1997; North West Sea Fisheries Committee Byelaw 31 Protection of V-notched lobsters 16 December 1997; Cumbria Sea Fisheries Committee Byelaw 26 Permit to Fish for Lobster, Crab and Whelks 20 January 2007; and North West Sea Fisheries Committee Byelaw 30 Fishing for Lobster, Crawfish, Crab, Prawn and Whelk 20 April 2007. NEXT STEPS Commercial applicants All those who received confirmation from NWIFCA via letter that they had provided the required information for a Category 1 permit, should now contact the Whitehaven office for payment. Once payment has been received a letter confirming your payment and a copy of your permit will be sent imminently. Tags will be available two weeks after payment. You will receive notification when they have arrived and an invite to arrange a time slot for picking…

At the Technical. Science and Byelaw meeting held on the 2nd of November it was resolved that NWIFCA should review the Newbiggin and Pilling Sands HRA. The review was submitted to Natural England on the 20th of December 2021. NWIFCA received a formal response on the 6th of January 2022. It was concluded that the fishery at Newbiggin alongside Pilling Sands was not HRA compliant. Therefore, the Newbiggin cockle bed will remain closed under NWSFC Byelaw 13A along with other beds within Morecambe Bay. Correspondence: NWIFCA Morecambe Bay Cockle Fishery HRA Review (PDF) NE Response Letter To Morecambe Bay Cockle Fishery HRA Review (PDF)