Please note that our Christmas 2023 opening times are as follows:

Monday 25^th December: Closed

Tuesday 26^th December: Closed

Wednesday 27^th December: Closed

Thursday 28^th December: Open 9am to 12.30pm

Friday 29^th December: Open 9am to 12.30pm

Monday 1^st January: Closed

Normal office hours resume Tuesday 2nd January 2024

On the 19^th of October 2023 at North Shields Magistrates Court, Mr Michael William Denton of Newbiggin by the Sea, was found guilty of two offences and pled guilty to a further two offences in which he breached Northumberland Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (NIFCA) byelaws.

The case was brought against Mr Denton by NIFCA who manage the inshore fishery along the Northumberland and North Tyneside coastline.

Elizabeth Rowley of Andrew Jackson Solicitors prosecuting on behalf of NIFCA, informed magistrates that on the 13^th of October 2022 Fisheries Officers from NIFCA and the Environment Agency observed and recorded Mr Denton aboard a recreational boat fishing using more than the five lobster pots his recreational permit allowed.

The officers proceeded to undertake an inspection on Mr Denton’s catch after he had returned to the shore finding three further offences. Mr Denton had taken more than two lobsters in a day and landed 21 lobsters that were beneath the minimum conservation reference size, three of which were egg baring.

Mr Denton a commercial fisherman, represented by Paul Dunn of Lawson and Thompson solicitors, pleaded guilty to fishing with more than five pots and taking more than two lobsters.

He was found guilty of the other offences and found to have caused deliberate harm to the fishery. The court ordered Mr Denton to pay a fine of £480, a victim surcharge of £192 and contribute £400 in costs.

Nick Weir, lead enforcement officer at NIFCA, said: “The Authority is happy with the court’s findings and for the continued support it has demonstrated towards the work we do. We would also like to thank the Environment Agency for its assistance during this investigation. Fishing for shellfish in Northumberland is vitally important to commercial fishers and a source of great enjoyment for responsible recreational fishers.

“Northumberland IFCA will vigorously pursue any person that deliberately harms the fishery or ignores byelaws that balance the social, environmental and economic needs of our stakeholders as we strive to promote healthy seas, sustainable fishing and maintain a viable industry.”

Please note that our next Quarterly Meeting will be held at The Hub, Seahouses Sports & Community Centre, Stone Close, Seahouses, NE68 7YL on Monday 23rd October 2023 at 1pm.

The meeting is open to all. If you have any queries or would like to attend, please email nifca@nifca.gov.uk

An article in this week’s Fishing News summarises the work by Sarah Coulthard on behalf of NIFCA to explore fisher’s ideas about what should be in a national crab and lobster Fisheries Management Plan (FMP). Thank you to Sarah and all of the fishers who gave their time during the interview. The work provides a valuable insight into the fishing industry throughout Northumberland and information will be invaluable to NIFCA’s FMP response. The article can be read in this weeks Fishing News here and the full report can be found here.

On Thursday the 22^nd of June at North Tyneside Magistrates Court, Mr Charles “Michael” Denton of Atlee Terrace, Newbiggin by the Sea, was found guilty and sentenced for two  breaches of national fisheries legislation. This related to an incident in July 2022 when he failed to return 179 Lobsters to the sea that were below the minimum landing size.

The case was brought against Mr 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, Elizabeth Rowley of Andrew Jackson Solicitors prosecuting on behalf of NIFCA, informed the court that on the 18^th of July 2022 Mr Denton, owner/skipper of the commercial fishing vessel Talisman II BK176, was observed at sea by two Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Officers (IFCO’s) from NIFCA setting conspicuous plastic boxes along with lobster pots off the coast of Cambois before returning to the port of Blyth. The two Officers, after proceeding to the sea in one of NIFCA’s enforcement vessels were able to recover these boxes. They found 168 lobsters that measured beneath the minimum conservation reference size stored inside. In between these two events, Mr Denton landed the remainder of his day’s catch to a wholesaler in Blyth, IFCO’s from NIFCA inspected this catch and also found 11 lobsters that measured beneath the same conservation reference size.

Mr Denton had committed 2 offences, he pleaded not guilty to the first and guilty to the second.

• He failed to immediately return 168 lobsters to the sea, contrary to Council Regulation (EU) 2019/1241 for the conservation of fisheries resources and the protection of marine ecosystems through technical measures, pursuant to Council Regulation (EU) 2013/1380 on the Common Fisheries Policy.
• He failed to return to the sea and landed 11 Lobsters contrary to Council Regulation (EU) 2019/1241 for the conservation of fisheries resources and the protection of marine ecosystems through technical measures, pursuant to Council Regulation (EU) 2013/1380 on the Common Fisheries Policy.

 After hearing evidence from two IFCO’s and from Mr Denton,  the Bench found Mr Denton, represented by Paul Dunn of Lawson and Thompson Solicitors, guilty of both offences. Mr Denton was sentenced to pay a fine of £1000, a further £1000 in prosecution cost and a victim surcharge of £400.

Nick Weir, the Lead Enforcement Officer for NIFCA, said: “The Authority is pleased that the court recognises the importance of national fisheries legislation, Mr Denton’s disregard for legislation designed to protect fish stocks is absolutely unacceptable. By preventing these Lobsters reaching maturity and spawning he has endangered the long-term sustainability of the fishery affecting the entire fishing community.  

“Fishing in Northumberland is an economically sensitive activity and of great social importance to our local heritage and character. Our byelaws in conjunction with national legislation, balance the social, environmental and economic needs of our stakeholders to promote healthy seas, sustainable fishing and a viable industry. To ensure this, NIFCA will vigorously pursue anyone who jeopardises the health of the fishery or fails to comply with our officers and legislation”.

FMPs have been developed nationally and include the Crab and Lobster FMP developed by Seafish and Defra. They aim to deliver sustainable fisheries in collaboration with the fishing industry (more information here) Fisheries management plans – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk), and will go to formal consultation in the coming months, which will include the chance to voice your views on the proposed measures.