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.

The House of Lords EU Energy and Environment Sub-Committee launches an inquiry into the implementation of the EU landing obligation. Background Discarding is the practice of throwing unwanted fish back into the sea. An average 1.7 million tonnes of fish and other marine life used to be discarded in the EU each year, because it was unmarketable, unprofitable, exceeded the amount of fish allowed to be caught or was otherwise unwanted. Not only is this a waste of finite resource, as many fish do not survive discarding, it also makes it difficult to accurately measure how many fish are actually caught (which is necessary to monitor the health of fish stocks and prevent over-fishing). The EU landing obligation seeks to gradually eliminate discards by requiring all catches of specified types of fish to be landed. It has been implemented in stages, beginning in 2015; by 1 January 2019 it will apply to all fish stocks for which the EU sets a Total Allowable Catch. Scope of the inquiry The Committee are inviting individuals and organisations to share their experience of the impact that the EU landing obligation has had to date, and their views on what impact full implementation might…