Please note that our Christmas 2025 opening times are as follows:

Normal working days: Monday 22nd December and Tuesday 23rd December

Wednesday 24^th December: Closed

Thursday 25^th December: Closed

Friday 26^th December: Closed

Monday 29th December: Open Half Day (AM)

Tuesday 30th December: Open Half Day (AM)

Wednesday 31st December: Open Half Day (AM)

Thursday 1st January: Closed

Normal office hours resume Friday 2nd January 2026

On Thursday the 20^th of November at the Quayside Law Courts in Newcastle, Magistrates found Mr Charles “Michael” Denton and Mrs Brenda Denton of Atlee Terrace, Newbiggin by the Sea guilty of breaching national and local fisheries legislation designed to regulate and protect key fisheries along the Northumberland coast.

This related to incidents in January 2025 when Mrs Denton’s fishing vessel was observed fishing without a permit and later found to be retaining prohibited shellfish.

The case was brought against Mr and Mrs Denton, by the Northumberland Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (NIFCA) who manage the inshore fishery along the Northumberland and North Tyneside coastline.

During the trial, Howard Shaw of Park Square Barristers, prosecuting on behalf of NIFCA, informed the court that on the 16^th of January 2025 Mrs Denton’s vessel the Andigee WY372 fishing from Blyth harbour, with her husband Michael acting as Master, was observed fishing within the NIFCA district using pots without a valid commercial shellfish permit.

On a joint sea patrol on the 17^th of January, Enforcement Officers from NIFCA and the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) inspected pots set by Mr Denton and found 174 lobsters that measured below the minimum conservation reference size of 87mm, one of which was egg bearing, deliberately stored inside for later collection.

The Enforcement Officers seized three illegally set fleets of gear comprising of 70 pots, one of these fleets, which also contained the stored undersize lobsters, was not displaying compulsory information on its surface markers.

Mr and Mrs Denton as Master and Owner of the Andigee have committed four offences:

• They failed to immediately return to the sea 174 European Lobsters contrary to Section 4 Article 13 of Council Regulation 2019/1241.
• They failed to return to the sea one berried European Lobster contrary to the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967 in respect of UK Statutory Instrument 2017 No 899.
• They fished within the NIFCA district for specified shellfish without a commercial permit contrary to NIFCA Byelaw 4 Crustacea and Mollusc Permitting and Pot Limitation and Section 163 of the Marine and Coastal Access act 2009.
• They failed to display the Name, Port Letters and Number of their fishing boat on pots used to fish and store sea fish, contrary to NIFCA byelaw 5 Marking of Fishing Gear and Keep Pots and Section 163 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009.

 After hearing evidence from four NIFCA Enforcement Officers and one from the MMO, the Bench found Mr and Mrs Denton guilty of all four offences. Sentencing for the offending was adjourned to early 2026.

Previously, in March 2023, Mr Denton received a 12-month disqualification from holding a NIFCA permit after being prosecuted and fined by the Authority for retaining 179 undersize Lobsters and was convicted of failing to comply with Fisheries Officers in 2022. He also has numerous other convictions for various fisheries offences covering more than 25 years.

Nick Weir, Lead Enforcement Officer for NIFCA, stated: “The Authority believes the Denton’s complete disregard for legislation designed to protect fish stocks is unacceptable. Fishing in Northumberland is both economically significant and socially integral to our local heritage and identity.

“Our byelaws, together with national legislation, are designed to balance the social, environmental, and economic interests of our stakeholders, supporting healthy marine environments, sustainable fishing practices, and a viable industry for future generations.

“To this end, NIFCA is committed to taking appropriate action against any individuals who compromise the health of the fishery or fail to comply with our officers and relevant legislation. The Authority also extends its appreciation to our partners at the Marine Management Organisation for their assistance in this matter, as well as both Park Square Barristers and Andrew Jacksons Solicitors for their continued support.”

On 19 May 2025, the UK Government announced the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund (FCGF), investing £360m over the next 12 years to support the next generation of fishers.

DEFRA is undertaking a series of engagement activities over the coming months to inform development of the FCGF. Stakeholders will have the opportunity to contribute feedback on potential funding priorities and how the FCGF could operate in practice.

You are invited to attend one of the upcoming webinars hosted online via Microsoft Teams:

1. 13 Nov 2025 – 10:00 – 11:30 Register here
2. 18 Nov 2025 – 14:00 – 15:30 Register here
3. 27 Nov 2025 – 17:00 – 18:30 Register here
4. 5 Dec 2025 – 14:00 – 15:30 Register here
5. 10 Dec 2025 – 14:00 – 15:30 Register here
6. 16 Dec 2025 – 10:00 – 11:30 Register here

In addition, stakeholders are invited to complete a survey to help shape how the FCGF is delivered. The survey will take around 15 minutes to complete and can be accessed here: https://defragroup.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bgBoKm9osQ1cmB8

If you have any queries on this survey, would like to request a large print version, or have any other queries please contact: FishingAndCoastalGrowthFund@defra.gov.uk

Ian Lavery, MP for Blyth and Ashington, has praised the work of the Northumberland Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (NIFCA) following a visit to learn more about its role in protecting marine habitats and supporting the local fishing community.

Mr Lavery met NIFCA Chair Amelia Henderson and Chief Officer Mark Southerton aboard the patrol vessel St Aidan to see how the Authority manages the region’s valuable lobster fishery and other inshore resources.

During the visit, the MP was shown how data collection and monitoring help safeguard fish stocks, and he learned about NIFCA’s V-notching scheme, which protects female breeding lobsters to ensure a sustainable fishery for the future. He also heard about the Authority’s enforcement work, investment in new equipment, and ongoing research projects aimed at improving the understanding of local marine ecosystems.

The discussions also covered national challenges, including offshore development pressures, fishing gear regulation consultations, and the work of the Inshore Small-Scale Fisheries consortium, which NIFCA supports to help secure the future of coastal fishing.

Mr Lavery said: “NIFCA plays a vital role in managing our sea fisheries resources, ensuring that fishing is carried out sustainably while balancing the social and economic benefits with the need to protect our marine environment. I was hugely impressed by the dedication of the team and the vital work they do along our coast.”

NIFCA Chair Amelia Henderson added: “We were delighted to welcome Ian Lavery MP and share the wide range of work we do. It was a great opportunity to discuss local and national challenges and our commitment to working with the fishing community to protect Northumberland’s marine habitats.”

This summer, NIFCA joined the Marine Directorate on a multi-day Nephrops stock assessment survey, gaining hands-on experience with a variety of methodologies, including trawls and a drop-down camera sled. This collaboration, alongside the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), provided a valuable insight into standardising survey techniques and knowledge that will be applied to Nephrops grounds within the NIFCA district.

Inshore Nephrops Burrow Count Surveys

The team also received expert training from Cefas in identifying and counting Nephrops burrows, further enhancing local capacity for stock assessments. During the summer, NIFCA officers also developed a burrow count survey for inshore Nephrops areas, aligning with CEFAS surveys in the Farn Deeps.

They established a 150-station survey grid, with stations spaced 1 km apart. A random subsample of 50 stations was surveyed this year, which is up from just six stations in 2024.

Using a towed sledge camera borrowed from North Eastern IFCA, officers recorded seabed footage for 12 minutes at each station. Burrows visible in the footage are counted as a proxy for Nephrops abundance.

North Eastern IFCA officers also joined one of the survey days. Analysis of the footage is underway in line with the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) guidance, and a full report will follow. The resulting data will improve understanding of inshore Nephrops populations and help interpret any changes in local catch rates.

Scottish Marine Directorate Nephrops Surveys

Following an invitation to the ICES Nephrops Working Group in late 2024, NIFCA also participated in the Scottish Marine Directorate’s annual Underwater TV (UWTV) Nephrops survey. Officers Andrew Boon and Sarah Richardson joined the MRV Scotia in Aberdeen for a seven-day offshore trip, assisting with drop-down camera surveys, grab sampling, and trawling for Nephrops. The survey spanned the Firth of Forth and extended as far as the Devil’s Hole. This experience will help shape future NIFCA surveys and strengthen inter-organisational cooperation going forward.