Please see the links below in respect of two prosecutions brought by NIFCA and heard at North Tyneside Magistrates Court on 22nd January. Both cases resulted in financial penalties for the defendant, a recognition of the importance of complying with NIFCA byelaws and regulations to conserve the marine environment and protect fish stocks.

Todd, January 2016

Patterson, January 2016

Please see the link HERE to a press release on the above, which come into force today.

Please see the link HERE to the Bass Industry Guidance

The next NIFCA quarterly meeting will be held on Monday 25th January at 2pm at 8 Ennerdale Road, Blyth, NE24 4RT.

Amongst items for discussion will be the new designation of the Coquet to St Mary’s MCZ and the NIFCA pot limitation byelaw.

The second tranche of MCZs was announced by DEFRA on Sunday, 17^th January including Coquet to St Mary’s in the NIFCA district. Information from DEFRA regarding MCZs can be found HERE and a link to all designated MCZs can be found HERE. DEFRA’s latest press release about this can be found HERE

The designation order, maps and factsheet for Coquet to St Mary’s can be found HERE

This study, carried out by Paschalis Papadamakis as part of the International Marine and Environmental Consultancy MSc course at Newcastle University proposes a Minimum Landing Size for the common dab Limanda limanda off the Northumberland coast, based on estimated growth parameters and length at first maturity.

This paper is promoted here for interest only – it is an independent report and was not commissioned by the Northumberland Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority. 

NIFCA continue to recommend a voluntary minimum landing size for dab of 250mm, based on Angling Trust guidelines.

To download the full paper follow this link:

Common dab Limanda limanda fisheries biology in the Northumberland coast; Preliminary age and growth study in order to introduce a Minimum Landing Size restriction for the future

This paper should be cited as follows:

Papadamakis, P. (2014) Common dab (Limanda limanda) fisheries biology in the Northumberland coast (NE, England); Preliminary age and growth study in order to introduce a Minimum Landing Size (MLS) restriction for the future. MSc Thesis. Newcastle University [online]. Available at: https://www.nifca.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/2014_IMEC_Papadamakis_P_Project_pdf.pdf (Accessed: day month year).