Consultations are open on the final four fisheries management plans (FMPs) being delivered by Defra.

The draft FMPs are:

• Celtic Sea and Western Channel demersal FMP
• Celtic Sea and Western Channel pelagic FMP
• Wrasses complex FMP
• Seabream FMP

Click here for further information

The Association of Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (AIFCA) has just released a series of short films revealing the work of England’s 10 Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (IFCAs) through the stories of their members and officers.  In the films, we hear first-hand how coastal communities are managing the future of their coastline to achieve a sustainable marine environment and inshore fisheries.

Check out the AIFCA website to watch all three videos to find out more.

Visit the AIFCA website here

Consultation period: 28 days
Consultation closes: Midnight on 10th March 2026

Northumberland Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (NIFCA) is seeking views on a proposed change to commercial shellfish permit conditions relating to the minimum size of lobster.

Background

In December 2023, Defra published the Crab and Lobster Fishery Management Plan (FMP). One of the objectives of the FMP is to increase the Lobster Minimum Conservation Reference Size (MCRS) to 90 mm across England.

Defra has confirmed that this increase will be implemented in a staggered way in all areas except the South West. For the rest of England MCRS will increase by 1mm annually beginning 1st March 2026. The initial stage prohibits the fishing for and landing of lobsters below 88 mm carapace length in English waters.

The national lobster MCRS increase will initially be delivered through a fishing vessel licence condition, pending the introduction of a Statutory Instrument (SI).

Why is NIFCA Consulting?

There are recognised enforcement and consistency challenges with the national approach, particularly within the NIFCA district, where:

• IFCAs cannot enforce fishing vessel licence conditions;
• The national lobster MCRS increase under a fishing vessel licence condition applies to English waters only; and
• To ensure clarity for vessels operating either side of the border where there is a difference of lobster MCRS and potential cross-border enforcement risks.

To address these issues, NIFCA is proposing to introduce a new flexible permit condition for commercial permit holders, which would mirror the first stage of the national increase.

Proposed Permit Condition

The proposed condition is:

“A commercial permit holder must not retain or carry lobsters on board any vessel with a carapace length below 88 mm.”

If introduced, this condition would apply to all commercial fishers operating under a NIFCA permit within the district only.

Purpose of the Proposed Condition

The proposed permit condition would:

• Enable consistent enforcement of the increased minimum lobster size for commercial fishers;
• Reduce the risk of lobsters below 88mm being retained or landed;
• Address cross-border enforcement challenges, particularly near the English / Scottish boundary; and
• Support and complement the national objectives set out in the Crab and Lobster FMP.

It is not anticipated that the permit condition would come into effect before 1 March 2026, aligning with the national timetable.

Once the national Statutory Instrument is introduced, the permit condition could be revoked, with national legislation becoming the primary regulatory mechanism.

Recreational Fishing

No changes are proposed for recreational permit holders at this stage. This reflects:

• The low daily bag limits for recreational fishing;
• The number of shore gatherers operating without permits; and
• The significant time required to amend minimum size requirements through a full byelaw process.

How to Respond

NIFCA welcomes views from stakeholders on the proposed permit condition.

Responses should be submitted by midnight on 10th March 2026 and can be sent to:

📧 nifca@nifca.gov.uk
or
🗣️ speak to an officer by visiting the office or calling on 01670 797676

All responses will be considered by NIFCA members before a decision is made.

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.”