An exciting opportunity as arisen with the Marine Futures Internship Programme. The internship programme is funded by The Crown Estate and will be project managed by the North West Wildlife Trusts. The programme is run in partnership with The Crown Estate, the North West Wildlife Trusts, Ørsted and Natural England(known as the partner organisations). The programme will provide one highly motivated individual, interested in a career in the marine environment, to gain a range of skills and work-based experience required for employment within the sector, as well as an insight into different potential job roles. Each partner organisation will provide opportunities for the intern to develop skills in specialist areas including, marine conservation advice, sustainable fisheries management, renewable energy development, marine policy, and community engagement. The successful intern will follow a varied schedule whilst on the programme that will allow them to gain a range of skills and experiences including: working in different office environments; conducting an independent research project; writing for different audiences; working with local communities to raise awareness about environmental issues; undertaking surveys and field work; the use of social media in the workplace; and delivering media interviews and presentations. Contact Details and Full Job Advert For further information, contact details and the…

As part of the development of Byelaw 3 Cockle and Mussel Hand Fishing Permit 2019, NWIFCA  are conducting further informal consultation with all stakeholders on the management measures included in the new byelaw. This represents all stakeholders’ opportunity to have input into the proposed management measures. The comments will be anonymised and reported to the Technical Science and Byelaws Sub-Committee (TSB) on Tuesday 14 May 2019. Please send comments on the draft byelaw in writing to the addresses below. Click here to download a copy of the draft Byelaw 3. Please submit all comments in writing by email or post to [email protected] Post: NWIFCA, 1 Preston Street, Carnforth, Lancashire, LA5 9BY The deadline for stakeholder input is Wednesday 1 May 2019.

Job Description Accountable to: Senior Scientist Salary Scale: £21,166 to £28,785 from 1 April 2019 (Local Government Scale 11-25) Pension: Local government scheme Location: Based in Carnforth with travel throughout District Hours of work: Based on a 37 hour working week using a flexitime system Employer: NWIFCA is lead regulator protecting the inshore marine environment and fisheries in NW England. NWIFCA District extends from the Welsh border in the south to the Scottish border in the north and seawards out to 6 miles. Aim of the Post: Under the direction of the Senior Scientist to protect the marine environment and promote sustainable use of its resources by delivering scientific and survey priorities. You will contribute to planning and delivery of a complex work programme and presentation of advice to the Authority. Main duties are impact assessment, stock assessment and species survey, GIS mapping, data analysis, reporting to the Authority and to Government. Priorities for next two years include assessments of cockle and mussel stocks, management of whelk fisheries, and developing survey and monitoring capacity of the NWIFCA’s new vessel, based in Whitehaven. Interview Date: TBC The Fisheries and Conservation Advisor post requires: Enthusiasm for the marine environment Good knowledge of…

The Marine Management Organisation’s (MMO) Iteration 3 marine planning engagement is coming to an end. Between 21 January until 29 March 2019 they have been engaging on their work to date in the development of the north west, north east, south west and south east and marine plans (Iteration 3). This engagement provides an opportunity to input towards the development of marine plans in your area. The engagement focuses on: preferred draft policies; draft supporting text for policies including on implementation. You still have until 29 March to complete the on-line engagement. The on-line engagement is the most comprehensive way to view and provide comment on these Iteration 3 products. Just select the topics you have an interest in and complete the short survey for each one. If you have any queries please contact the MMO’s Marine Planning team at [email protected]

Retained Bass must be over the minimum sized of 42cm. For more information on the current bass measures visit the MMO’s bass guidance page.

North Western Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (NWIFCA) is calling for fishermen and women to follow a Voluntary Closure on placing nets around St Bees starting 18th March 2019. Although thankfully not a common occurrence, there have been distressing reports in the past of numbers of birds getting caught up in the nets and drowning. Obviously no one wants or intends this, and fishers themselves have been deeply upset when it has occurred. As fisheries regulators the NWIFCA has a duty to ensure that netting is not having a damaging effect on birds. The breeding season is the crucial time for seabirds such as razorbills and guillemots nesting on the cliffs at St Bees. Last year the NWIFCA brought in the Voluntary Closure for the first time and can report 100% compliance from both commercial and recreational fishers. The support of all allows the Authority to feel confident in implementing the closure again this year as a measure to protect the breeding birds and their young while they are in the area. St Bees is an important cliff habitat for breeding seabirds, and is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). It also lies within the Cumbria Coast…

The Food Standards Agency has re-classified Pilling to a seasonal class B. For more information see the letter issued by the Food Standards Agency below. Interim Update Food Standards Agency

Since their inception in 2011, the IFCAs have led the development of effective management for inshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in England. To date IFCAs have introduced 23 new byelaws for the management of fishing activities in inshore MPAs, including the permanent closure of 3,980km2 of sea area to potentially damaging fishing activities. As the IFCAs support the UK Government’s commitments to deliver a well-managed network of MPAs to help achieve the “Blue Belt” around the coast of Great Britain, they have delivered exceptional value for money by managing stakeholder led decisions to support local communities. To recognise the success and achievements by IFCAs in delivering a well-managed network of inshore MPAs in England, the Association of IFCAs is launching a report entitled Management of Inshore Marine Protected Areas by the IFCAs – 2011 to 2018. This report, together with an interactive webpage, is available  on the Association of IFCAs website (www.association-ifca.org.uk). This work has been carried out in close collaboration with Defra and the Defra group. Click here to view the MPA section on the AIFCA website Click here to view the interactive map on the AIFCA website Thérèse Coffey, Parliament Under Secretary of State for the Environment stated:…

How should all the marine activities in your local coastal and marine areas be managed?  

United Kingdom and French scientists are tagging sea bass with internal electronic tags. To indicate the fish is tagged it may have a blue tattoo, a spaghetti tag or other visible external tags. If you find a tagged sea bass or an electronic tag note the date and the location of the catch and keep the whole fish with its tags. Then contact Cefas on the details below: Email: [email protected] Phone: +44 1502 524 526

Update 17/01/19 (2) The authorisation’s for the Flookburgh, Leven and Newbiggin Craam only fisheries are available below: Flookburgh and Leven Sands Craam Only Fishery Authorisation Newbiggin Craam Only Fishery Authorisation Details on the partial lifting of the 13a closure at Pilling is available below: Pilling Partial Lifting of 13a Closure Update 17/01/19 All shellfish removed for human consumption from Pilling Sands East must be accompanied by a shellfish registration document. Shellfish registration documents can be obtained from Wyre Council food safety section. Visit http://www.wyre.gov.uk/info/200408/food_safety/1022/shellfish_harvesting to obtain information regarding the legal requirements surrounding the harvesting of shellfish for human consumption and links to obtain Registration Documents. Update 16/01/19 The opening of Leven, Flookburgh, Newbiggin and Pilling has been approved. The fisheries will open at 12:00 (midday) on 21/01/19. Authorisations for the fisheries will be published soon. Posted 08/01/19 Officers are working to open the following beds on 21st January 2019: Leven, Flookburgh and Newbiggin as craam only fisheries. The east section of Pilling by lifting the Byelaw 13a closure. The opening of the beds is subject to Technical, Science and Byelaws Sub-Committee approval and the approval of the HRA by Natural England. This post and the Cockle fisheries page will be updated with further…

All shellfish removed for human consumption from Pilling Sands East must be accompanied by a shellfish registration document. Shellfish registration documents can be obtained from Wyre Council food safety section. Visit http://www.wyre.gov.uk/info/200408/food_safety/1022/shellfish_harvesting to obtain information regarding the legal requirements surrounding the harvesting of shellfish for human consumption and links to obtain Registration Documents.