Give your views on the anticipated national crab and lobster fisheries management plan (FMP) and proposed increase in lobster minimum landing size.
Dear Fisher,
NIFCA in collaboration with Newcastle University are conducting a survey to gather views from potters in the NIFCA region on the national crab and lobster fisheries management plan which is due to be released to public consultation in early summer this year. One proposed measure in the plan that we are aware of is an increase in the minimum landing size of lobster from 87mm to 90mm. The full detail of the proposed FMP will be released at the point of consultation.
We would like to be as ready as possible for the consultation with a regional response that is inclusive of as many fishers as possible and so are seeking views on what should be included in the FMP and, more specifically, your opinion on the proposed increase MLS and how it might affect your fishing.
There are 2 surveys, a short one (5 minutes to complete) and a longer one (approx.. 30 minutes to complete), which covers a wider variety of issues that are relevant to fisheries management.
Please complete either of these (not both) and submit your findings at the below links.
Newcastle University will then process the data and produce a report summarising the views of fishers in this region, which will be available on the NIFCA website and presented back to fishers in person, through the NIFCA fisher forums (by end of April 2023).
All responses are completely anonymous and you cannot be identified by your response.
Please submit your response by 14th April 2023 at which point the survey will close.
If you’d like an in-person or phone call interview to share your views, please email Sarah.coulthard@newcastle.ac.uk.
If you’ve spoken to Beth, Lauren or Sarah (from Newcastle University) about this already there’s no need to complete this survey as it’s the same questions.
Thank you for your time – it’s so important that fishers have a clear voice in the development of these plans.
Short Survey
https://newcastle.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/fmp-short-survey
Long Survey
