The deadline for applications for members has been extended by the Marine Management Organisations (MMO) to the 28th September 2017. The MMO is seeking to recruit three members for the North Western Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority. Interest is welcomed from those with experience and interest in commercial fishing; recreational fishing; the marine environment; or other relevant interest and experience. Full details are available on the MMO website here. Please note that the vacancies are voluntary roles. Any queries regarding the vacancies should be directed to: [email protected] or telephone 0208 225 6659 or 0208 026 5171.

Defra has committed to banning the manufacture and sale of cosmetics and personal care products contain microbeads which may harm the marine environment. Defra plan to bring the plan into force at the end of 2017, with the ban on manufacture beginning on 1st January 2018 and the ban on sale beginning on 30th June 2018. A draft of the legislation is available to view until 15th October 2017 at the link below: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/banning-the-use-of-microbeads-in-cosmetics-and-personal-care-products Any person may make representations on the draft legislation for England in writing to the Secretary of State. Any such representations should be sent by 15th October 2017 to: Marine Litter Policy Team, Defra, 8B Millbank, 17 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3JR or by email to [email protected]

The Marine Management Organisation is seeking to recruit three members for the North Western Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority. Interest is welcomed from those with experience and interest in commercial fishing; recreational fishing; the marine environment; or other relevant interest and experience. Full details are available on the MMO website here. Please note that the vacancies are voluntary roles. Any queries regarding the vacancies should be directed to: [email protected] or telephone 0208 225 6659 or 0208 026 5171.  

The Environment Agency have published the briefing below regarding Atlantic Salmon. If you have any queries regarding Pacific pink salmon please contact the Environment Agency through the means provided at the end of the article. Brief background Over recent weeks the Environment Agency has received an unusually high number of reports of Pacific pink salmon (Onchorhyncus gorbuscha) which have been captured in both rod and net fisheries in North East of England. To date, we believe that over 200 pink salmon have been captured in the North East coast salmon net fishery with an increasing number of reports from rod and line anglers within freshwater, particularly in Scotland and Ireland. There is a possibility that these fish might be present in other rivers throughout England and Wales following the recent capture of a pink salmon in County Cork, Ireland. Pink salmon are the smallest and most abundant of the five Pacific salmon species and are a non-native salmon species within the North Atlantic Area.    Where have Pacific Pink salmon come from? Pacific pink salmon are also known as humpback salmon and originate from the northern areas of the Pacific Ocean. Significant numbers of pink salmon have been stocked in the White…

Please see below for the Leasowe cockle survey results from the 11th August 2017. You can download a .pdf version here. Leasowe Cockle Survey Note 11-08-2017 LW 08:51 1.3m (Liverpool tides) Survey – Jumbo and 0.5m2 quadrat / 0.1m² quadrat and sieve depending on substrate and density of cockle. 38 survey stations were sampled from a grid 250m apart with an extra point added between some points. The bed can be split into two distinct areas, one area high up the beach and relatively muddy that has a high density of cockle, and an outer area where the cockle has spread out from the dense and is in lower densities. This outer area consists of sand waves with muddy patches in between and the majority of the cockle lies in the muddy patches. Means Means were calculated from all survey stations with the defined bed area (zero counts on the edge of the bed have been removed). Dense Area Mean number of size cockle:                      396 per m² (min. 8, max 1430) Mean number of undersize cockle:         102 per m² (min 0, max 510) Outer Area Mean number of size cockle:                      34 per m² (min. 0, max 266) Mean number…

Authorisation updated 09/08/2017  See the updated authorisation by clicking here Heysham Flat Seed Mussel fishery will open to Byelaw 3 permit holders at 0435 on 7/8/17 and will be accessible from the The Battery, Morecambe. Details regarding tides and working hours are contained within the authorisation. Please read the authorisation posted here. Breaches of the authorisation may lead to closures of the fishery. Lancaster City Council Vehicle access permits can be obtained from Morecambe Town Hall. Failure to supply all the valid documentation required will delay the application procedure. As with most years there is a demarcation line imposed to protect the Honey Comb Worm habitat, crossing the line marked by wooden stakes may lead to the closure of the fishery.

The consultation on Byelaw 3 (Permit to fish for cockles and mussels) has now closed. NWIFCA would like to thank everyone who has taken part. The submissions will now be collated and a summary report will be presented to the Technical Science and Byelaw Sub-Committee on 8th August 2017. A copy of the report, once complete, will be available for download here. Please do not submit new consultation responses as they cannot be considered.

On the 13th June, the North Western Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (NWIFCA) received reports of eight individuals picking cockles at Morecambe. The activity was on a very small scale and only a small quantity of shellfish had been removed.  The main target of the fishing activity was found to be other bivalve species; though some cockles had been taken. It was concluded that the gathering was for personal consumption. Currently, all cockle beds within the district are closed and a closed season is in place until 31st August. Taking this into account, all identified individuals will receive warning letters. The NWIFCA would like to remind people that offences could lead to a fine on conviction of up to £50,000. If you see any suspicious fishing activity please report it to the NWIFCA via email at [email protected] or by phone on 01524 727970.

Clarification (Published 08/06/17) The NWIFCA have received several requests to issue clarification on what is meant by a “Flexible Permit Scheme”. A Flexible Permit Scheme means the conditions of the permit may change fishery to fishery. The flexibility is not intended to relate to the numbers of permits available. A specific question about the management and number of permits is included in the consultation. NWIFCA are reviewing Byelaw 3 (Permit to Fish for Cockles and Mussels) and are conducting an informal consultation with all stakeholders on the management measures to be included in the new byelaw. Subject to consultation it is the IFCA’s intention that the new byelaw will regulate hand gathering of Cockles and Mussels across the district and will include a flexible permit scheme and the regulation of those buying cockles. Where necessary the backgrounds to the measures reference other byelaws which are relevant. This represents all stakeholders’ opportunity to have input into these management measures. The input will be reported to the Technical Science and Byelaws Sub-Committee (TSB) on the 8th August 2017. NWIFCA will only consider written submissions and verbal/phone input cannot be considered. NWIFCA request that you give your reasoning behind your answers. The deadline…

The NWIFCA has received numerous enquiries about the current bass regulations for recreational fishing. To clarify: Recreational fishing for bass remains Catch and Release only for all of June 2017. From 1st July until 31st December 2017, recreational fishers may take one fish per person per day. The minimum conservation reference size for bass is 42 cm – anything smaller than this must be returned immediately to the sea (this applies all year round). For more information on bass fishing, see Article 10 of the Council Regulation (EU) 2017/127 and the MMO Bass Fishing Guidance available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bass-fishing-guidance/bass-fishing-guidance If you have any concerns or questions please do not hesitate to get in touch on [email protected]

Notice is hereby given that the North Western Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority intends to apply to the Minister for the Department for Environment Food and Rural affairs for the confirmation of the following Byelaws: 1. PROHIBITION ON FOUL HOOKING 2017 This byelaw will prohibit the practice of foul hooking sea fish. It will replace the current NW & NWSFC Byelaw 18  and Cumbria SFC Byelaw 17. Click here to download the full text of the Byelaw. 2. RESTRICTIONS ON THE USE OF A DREDGE 2017 This byelaw will prohibit the use of dredges towed by vessels or vehicles for fishing within the NWIFCA District without a permit. In addition the Authority may attach conditions which may be varied to promote sustainable exploitation of sea fisheries resources. Click here to download the full text of the Byelaw. Any person who wishes to object to the confirmation of these byelaws must send a statement of their objection in writing to both the Marine Conservation and Enforcement Team, Marine Management Organisation, P.O. Box  1275, Newcastle, NE99 5BN (or [email protected]), and the North Western IFCA, 1 Preston Street, Carnforth, Lancashire, LA5 9BY (or [email protected]) within 28 days of the publication of this notice.

Defra is seeking views on a proposed ban on landing egg-bearing lobsters and crawfish in England. The aim of the ban is to protect stocks of these shellfish. Defra particularly want to hear from fishing and vessel owners and fishing licence/shellfish entitlement holders. The consultation ends on 15th May 2017. For further information and to participate visit the Defra website.