We have become aware of an article on the Save Our Sea Bass website alleging that the North Western Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority has being lobbying to allow Bass to be retained from nets set from the shore. The Authority has not made representations to the government on this matter.

The byelaw described below has been approved and made by the Authority. In accordance with Defra’s byelaw making process the Authority must now advertise the byelaw and provide a consultation period before it can be signed by the Minister to bring it into force. Byelaw 2 North Wirral Foreshore Bivalve Molluscs The byelaw prohibits removal of any bivalve shellfish from a defined area of the Wirral foreshore to protect stocks overfished in 2020. An exception is included to allow for commercial cockle gathering under a NWIFCA Byelaw 3 permit. Links to a full copy of the byelaw and Regulatory Impact Assessment is provided in the next section.  If you wish to comment or object to the byelaw please see the instructions below. The consultation closes on Friday 5th March 2021.  Copies of the Byelaw and How to Comment View Byelaw 2: North Wirral Foreshore Bivalve Molluscs (pdf) View the Regulatory Impact Assessment for Byelaw 2: North Wirral Foreshore Bivalve Molluscs (pdf) Printed copies of the full byelaw are available from NWIFCA, 1, Preston Street, CARNFORTH, Lancashire, LA5 9BY. Any person who wishes to object to the confirmation of the byelaw must send a statement of their objection in writing to…

The byelaw described below has been approved and made by the Authority. In accordance with Defra’s byelaw making process the Authority must now advertise the byelaw and provide a consultation period before it can be signed by the Minister to bring it into force. Byelaw 1 Minimum Conservation Reference Sizes 2021 The byelaw prohibits the removal, transshipment, landing, transport storage and sale of fish below specified sizes for the main species caught within the NWIFCA District. Exceptions for commercial fishing for certain pelagic shoaling species and for herring caught with a correctly set whitebait filter net are defined. Links to a full copy of the byelaw and Regulatory Impact Assessment is provided in the next section.  If you wish to comment or object to the byelaw please see the instructions below. The consultation closes on Friday 5th March 2021.  Copies of the Byelaw and How to Comment View Byelaw 1: Minimum Conservation Reference Sizes (pdf) View the Regulatory Impact Assessment for Byelaw 1: Minimum Conservation Reference Sizes (pdf) Printed copies of the full byelaw are available from NWIFCA, 1, Preston Street, CARNFORTH, Lancashire, LA5 9BY. Any person who wishes to object to the confirmation of the byelaw must send a…

Update 12/01/21 The deadline for Whelk Permit applications and Whelk Track Record applications has been extended until 17th February 2021. Original Post The NWIFCA Potting Permit Byelaw 2020 was sent to the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) on 17 July 2020 for Q&A prior to being sent to Defra for confirmation by the Secretary of State. Under the process for assigning whelk track record, applications for both whelk track record and permits must be made within six months from the date of submission of this byelaw for approval. This makes the closure date for track record applications 17 January. To apply for track record please complete the Whelk Track Record Application Form and a Category One Potting Permit Application Form available below: Download Whelk Track Record Application Form (Word Doc) Download Category One Potting Permit Application Form (Word Doc) Download Whelk Track Record Appeal Form (Word Doc) Open process document for assigning whelk track record (PDF) No payments will be accepted until the byelaw is confirmed, at which point providing all the requirements for obtaining a permit have been met, applicants will be contacted to make payment. No permits will be issued until payments have been processed. To assist applications the…

The NWIFCA Potting Permit Byelaw 2020 was sent to the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) on 17 July 2020 for Q&A prior to being sent to Defra for confirmation by the Secretary of State. During this process the byelaw may be subject to minor amendment, but NWIFCA is now inviting stakeholders who pot for species other than whelks. To apply for a permit use the category one application form below: Download Category One Potting Permit Application Form (Word Doc) Although there is no deadline for applying for a permit to pot for species other than whelks, the NWIFCA is carrying out this administrative exercise now to ensure the byelaw can be practically implemented as swiftly as possible once the Secretary of State confirms the byelaw. No payments will be accepted until the byelaw is confirmed, at which point providing all the requirements for obtaining a permit have been met, applicants will be contacted to make payment. No permits will be issued until payments have been processed. Please note that NWIFCA cannot provide updates on the progress of the Byelaw during this time and we appreciate your patience. We do undertake to notify you as soon as there is any concrete news. To…

Invitation to Owners of Registered and Licensed Fishing Vessels to make their Applications for Permits – specifically for whelks and to establish whelk track record. The NWIFCA Potting Permit Byelaw 2020 was sent to the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) on 17 July 2020 for Q&A prior to being sent to Defra for confirmation by the Secretary of State. During this process the byelaw may be subject to minor amendment, but NWIFCA is now inviting stakeholders who pot for whelks from registered and licenced fishing vessels to apply for track record and permits, using the whelk track record application form and Category One permit application form. Under the process for assigning whelk track record, applications for both whelk track record and permits must be made within six months from the date of submission of this byelaw for approval. Should a person consider that they have a legitimate claim to a track record for whelks but that they fall marginally outside of the NWIFCA track record eligibility criteria, they may appeal to a panel using the Whelk Track Record Appeal Form. The NWIFCA is carrying out this administrative exercise now to ensure the byelaw can be practically implemented as swiftly as possible…

In accordance with government guidelines, angling is a permitted activity to be undertaken with the following rules: Gatherings of more than 2 people (from different households) are not permitted. The regulations are clear – you can only leave home to fish with members of your own household, your support bubble or with one other individual, following government social distancing guidelines at all times. Mass events, such as sporting events are banned. (i.e. fishing competitions, matches) Local fishing only – anglers must follow current government guidance on travel for the benefit of recreational activity. Long journeys should be avoided wherever possible. There are no limits on the time that can be spent on outdoor recreation which means that anglers are able to continue fishing into and through the hours of darkness providing the other rules are observed. Sea anglers should focus on their local beaches and fishing marks and freshwater anglers should not be travelling hundreds of miles in search of fishing during lockdown.

Defra have asked IFCAs to ask all of our industry contacts who export or are planning to export live bivalve molluscs from England to the EU to get in touch with the FHI (Please contact the Fish Health Inspectorate by email at [email protected] or call 01305 206 700). It appears they may have under-estimated the impact that the lack of export certification for LBM from class B and C shellfish beds between beginning of January and 21st April, when new certification is due to be put in place, will have on the hand-gathering sector. There is a perception that the majority of cockles are processed in the UK and therefore export certification will not impact heavily. IFCAs have been very clear with Defra this is not the case and there is a whole sector who will be seriously affected by the current situation. It is very important that they are given information on how this will affect you and your businesses. Please do not delay in getting in touch with them. It is also suggested that you contact your customers in the EU and ask them if they are going to suffer losses they speak to the ports and legislators…

The government is seeking views on new measures to boost our fishing industry, including how to fairly distribute the new opportunities from leaving the Common Fisheries Policy, and increase the economic benefits from fishing activity for our coastal communities. The government has today launched a package of consultations which seek views on: a strengthened ‘economic link’ for English licenced fishing vessels to help ensure genuine economic benefits for our coastal communities – including plans for an increased landing requirement of 70%. View the consultation on gov.uk. proposals on how to allocate the new opportunities the UK secures in negotiations with other partners will be split between Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England, in a way that is fairer and more profitable for fishing communities across the four nations. View the consultation on gov.uk. further proposals on how England’s share of those new opportunities would be distributed across the English fleet to benefit our coastal communities’ hard working fishermen and women. View the consultation on gov.uk. Fisheries Minister Victoria Prentis said: As we take back control of our fisheries, we are creating new powers to set fairer fishing opportunities for industry and coastal communities through our flagship Fisheries Bill. We want…

On 14th October at Liverpool Magistrates, Mr Lee Harmes of Birchridge, Flint and Mr Hayden Russell of Maxwell Close, Buckley were found guilty in absence of going equipped to gather cockles without a permit.  On 25th September 2019 Inshore Fishery and Conservation officers stopped Mr Harmes and Mr Russell in an all-terrain vehicle at the Flookburgh cockle fishery, approximately two miles from shore. They were found to be in possession of equipment for commercial cockle picking without a permit in contravention of NWIFCA Byelaw 3. Upon questioning by officers Mr Harmes provided officers with a false name and address.  Mr Harmes was fined £5,000 for the breach of NWIFCA Byelaw 3 and £500 for providing false details. Mr Russell was fined £5,000 for breach of NWIFCA Byelaw 3. Both were ordered to pay costs of £1,050 and a victim surcharge of £181.  Joseph Moulton Head of Enforcement at NWIFCA said: “We welcome the high level of fines given and feel it reflects the seriousness of this case. Cockle poaching undermines the sustainability of the fishery and the livelihoods of legitimate fishers who rely on the fishery to make a living.”

The Environment Agency and Fisheries Management Scotland are warning anglers to be vigilant for the last month of the fishing season following confirmed cases of escaped farmed salmon caught on the River Derwent and the Border Esk. 48,834 fish from the Carradale North site, Mowi farm, escaped after the farm became detached from its seabed anchors during Storm Ellen in the summer. Fisheries Management Scotland have been making efforts to manage and mitigate the escape, however, it has been confirmed that six farmed fish have been caught on the River Ehen, the Border Esk and on the Cumbrian Derwent river with more fish suspected to be in other local rivers. The Environment Agency and Fisheries Management Scotland are working together to ensure consistent guidance for anglers in England and Scotland and are urging anglers to report any captures on the Fisheries Management Scotland reporting system. Brian Shields from the Environment Agency, said: “We want to see as many wild fish spawning as possible to benefit future fish generations which is why want to make sure these farmed fish can be removed from our rivers, within the law, to prevent future damage to the wild stocks. We are working closely with…

Press Release Morecambe Bay Chinese Mitten Crab NWIFCA now has firm evidence of adult Chinese Mitten Crab (Eriocheir sinensis) in Morecambe Bay. NWIFCA scientists have been carrying out quarterly surveillance and monitoring surveys for this invasive non-native species on the Heysham Flat and Foulney mussel beds since 2018. None had been found in this time. NWIFCA Senior Scientist was contacted by a fisherman fishing with nets on two local rivers in Morecambe Bay. He reported having caught and released an adult Chinese Mitten Crab in his net when fishing near Skerton Weir on the Lune. On Monday 28th September he reported having caught two adult Chinese Mitten Crab in his net while fishing the Keer, and had retained these crabs alive. These rivers are both on the eastern side of the Bay running through Lancaster and Carnforth respectively. NWIFCA collected the crabs, removed them carefully to their facilities ensuring good biosecurity measures, photographed and froze them. A positive identification was made. They are excellent specimens of an adult male and an adult female. The furry mittens are distinctive. Chinese Mitten Crabs can also be distinguished from native shore crabs (Carcinus maenas) by four notches on the carapace between the eyes…