A reminder that the NIFCA Chair has called an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Authority to discuss Defra’s consultation regarding the proposed HPMA in Lindisfarne.

The event is open to everyone on the evening of Thursday 21^st July. Join us at 5pm at The Hub, Stone Close, Seahouses, NE68 7YL. No need to book but feel free to contact us for more details on 01670 797 676 or at nifca@nifca.gov.uk.

Please see link to Agenda for the meeting below:-

Agenda – EGM 21 July 2021

 Please note that our next Quarterly Meeting will be held at East Bedlington Community Centre, 16 & 17 Station Rd, Bedlington Station, NE22 7JN, on Monday 25th July 2022 at 1pm.

Agenda Items include: –
IFCO Reports on activity in the district, Environmental Report on NIFCA research, surveys and Defra proposed HPMA in the NIFCA district.

If you would like to attend, please email nifca@nifca.gov.uk

Northumberland Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (NIFCA) has appointed three new volunteer members to its board.

The organisation, which is based in Blyth, and is one of ten IFCAs around the coast of England, works to manage a sustainable marine environment and inshore fisheries, including commercial and recreational fishers, in the waters off the coast of Northumberland and North Tyneside and in rivers in the district up to the normal tidal limit.

The new members are Amelia Henderson, Paul Dent and Steven Moss.

Together, they will support the Authority in its mandate to ensure that the use of sea fisheries resources is carried out in a sustainable way and the objectives of Marine Conservation Zones are achieved.

Amelia, who lives in Blyth, is a keen recreational angler and Secretary of the Bedlington Sea Angling Club. She is passionate about preserving the natural environment and working with the local community.

Paul Dent, from Newbiggin, has been a fisherman for more than 35 years, starting out as a deck hand to his current role of skipper and boat owner. Paul has worked closely with the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and Cefas in developing more environmental and sustainable fishing practices and is former member of the RNLI.

Steven Moss is a lifelong Northumberland fisherman who owns a traditional Northumbrian Coble working from Blyth. He has also owned and skippered two large fishing trawlers and is an active member of the Anglo Scottish Fish Producers Organisation, as well as a member of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations (NFFO).

Welcoming the new members, NIFCA chief executive officer Mike Hardy, said: “It is fantastic to have Amelia, Paul and Steven joining our board. I have no doubt their knowledge, interests and experience will make a positive difference to inshore fisheries management and the marine environment in Northumberland”.

NIFCA Chair Les Weller said, “I am delighted to welcome our three new members and look forward to guiding the Authority’s work with a full and balanced membership”.

The new members are volunteers appointed on behalf of NIFCA by the MMO through a formal application process. NIFCA members appointed by the MMO do not represent a specific sector but bring their expertise to Authority discussions and policy making.

They are required to act objectively and in the best interests of the inshore marine area, using their skills and knowledge to inform decisions on how their local area is managed, drawing on a mandate under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 and other government guidance. Key aims include balancing sustainability needs with the economic exploitation of sea fisheries, as well as safeguarding conservation of the broader marine environment.

Officers from Northumberland Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (NIFCA) have conducted a beach clean at Cambois Beach, as part of a training day devoted to the science of climate change and the impacts of pollution, extreme weather and rising sea levels.

During the beach clean, the officers gathered a vast range of items, including disposable BBQs, helium balloons, ropes, broken tennis balls and all types of plastics from bottles and straws to cups, carrier bags and cutlery.

The aim of the NIFCA climate change workshop and beach clean was to consider the potential impacts on the fishing industry, for example the increasing acidification of the sea is making it hard for crustaceans like crabs and lobsters to form their shells, which is extremely important to commercial and recreational fishing in the North East.

The team also discussed the significance of everyone working to reduce their carbon footprint, with an emphasis on what is achievable and realistic in their own lives, including shopping for local produce, eating less meat, taking public transport, lift sharing and switching to green banking or washing clothes at 30 degrees.

The team also considered ways to reduce work-based carbon emissions and how to mitigate the carbon footprint of NIFCA. The team is now working on a long-term climate change and carbon reduction plan.

NIFCA chief executive, Mike Hardy, explains: “We have a collective responsibility to minimise our impact on the planet by promoting positive change and supporting developments in the fishing industry that reduce carbon emissions. As an organisation we are committed to reducing our impact on the planet by creating a sustainable carbon reduction plan.

“The beach clean at Cambois was a terrific way to highlight that keeping our beaches clean is especially important to protect wildlife, as well as the fishing industry and tourism. We can all play our part in looking after our beaches and waterways by taking litter home. Every year thousands of people help to make a difference by taking part in individual and organised beach cleans all over the country.”

NIFCA is based in Blyth and is responsible for looking after the marine environment and promoting sustainable fishing practices. Its district covers the area from the mid-point of the River Tyne to the Scottish border and extends six nautical miles out to sea along the Northumberland and North Tyneside coastline.

Defra has today launched the above consultation, including in respect of Lindisfarne in the NIFCA district. The link to the consultation can be found here:

https://consult.defra.gov.uk/hpma/consultation-on-highly-protected-marine-areas/

We are pleased to be able to share our Spring edition of NIFCA News. This issue features updates on our byelaws, the launch of our new website and our recent work in the district. We hope you find it to be an enjoyable and informative read.