2026 marks the 15th anniversary of the establishment of England’s Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (IFCAs), recognising 15 years of dedicated work to manage inshore fisheries sustainably and protect the marine environment.

Established in April 2011 under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, IFCAs replaced the former Sea Fisheries Committees. Their creation marked a major step forward in marine management, introducing a novel, accountable and locally led approach to balancing the protection of marine ecosystems with the social and economic needs of coastal communities.

Over the past 15 years, IFCAs across England’s 10 districts have played a vital role in improving fisheries management, safeguarding marine habitats and supporting the long-term sustainability of inshore waters. Working closely with the fishing industry, government and other regulators, scientists, conservation organisations and local stakeholders, IFCAs have developed practical, evidence-led responses to complex challenges. These have included protecting sensitive habitats, introducing byelaws to support responsible fishing, and improving understanding of emerging fisheries.

The establishment of IFCAs also came at a pivotal time for England’s seas, alongside the designation of England’s Marine Protected Area network. For these protected areas to be effective, appropriate fisheries management measures were needed. IFCAs have worked tirelessly with local communities and stakeholders to develop and implement management that is both internationally important and locally tailored.

To mark the anniversary, the Association of IFCAs will share a dedicated series of 15 stories, each highlighting a key achievement from the past 15 years. Together, these stories will showcase the breadth of IFCA work, from Marine Protected Area management and fisheries science to enforcement, innovation, and meaningful engagement with coastal communities and the fishing industry.

The celebrations will culminate in a National Celebration of Inshore Fisheries at Alnwick Castle, Northumberland, on 1 July 2026. The event will bring together partners, government bodies, MPs and fishing industry stakeholders to reflect on progress, share knowledge and look ahead to the future of England’s inshore fisheries.

Tony Tomlinson MBE, Chair of the Association of IFCAs, said: “Over the past 15 years, IFCAs have demonstrated the value of local management in delivering sustainable fisheries and protecting our marine environment. This anniversary is a chance not only to celebrate those achievements, but also to recognise the people who make this work possible every day.”

As IFCAs look beyond 2026, they remain committed to delivering their duties successfully, balancing environmental protection with the needs of inshore fisheries and coastal communities, while adapting to emerging challenges such as climate change.

To follow the 15 Stories of IFCAs, visit the Association of IFCAs on Instagram (@association_ifca), LinkedIn (Association of IFCAs) and X (@AssociationIFCA).

You can also watch AIFCA’s new films about IFCAs on their ‘About Us’ page here.

For more information, please contact Emily Bulled, Communication and Engagement Manager at the Association of IFCAs, at emily.bulled@association-ifca.org.uk.

March 2026 | AIFCA News

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE MARCH ASSOCIATION OF IFCAS NEWSLETTER

The Association of IFCAs has released their March edition of IFCA Insights.

IFCA Insights is designed to better connect and communicate the work carried out across England’s ten IFCAs. The Association of IFCAs represents the IFCAs at a national level and the newsletter aims to showcase and highlight the innovation, dedication and impact of IFCAs and share widely their important work to manage inshore fisheries in England.

In this edition, you’ll be able to find out about AIFCA’s ongoing collaboration with the Inshore and Small-Scale Fisheries (ISSF) Consortium, updates on IFCA training and professional development, the growing role of drones in IFCA science and enforcement and much more.

Access the latest edition here.

These newsletters will be released Quarterly, with the next edition in June 2026. The AIFCA is always looking for new content, ideas and feedback. Feel free to get in touch with Emily Bulled, Communication and Engagement Manager, at emily.bulled@association-ifca.org.uk.

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.

A reminder to all recreational fishers – The Catch and Release period is now in affect and will run from 1^st Feb to 31^st March 2026.