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It’s the end of an era at Northumberland IFCA as Chief Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Officer Al Browne retires after 25 years service to the old Northumberland Sea Fisheries Committee from 1995 and then the IFCA from 2010.
Al Browne said “I am in many ways sorry to be leaving such a great team of Officers and Members at NIFCA, but I feel the time is right and I know that I am passing on the role to an extremely capable and experienced Officer in Mark Southerton. I would like to thank everybody who I have worked with, Officers and Members, down the years and I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as a Sea Fisheries Officer and found it extremely fulfilling. I will be keeping in touch with colleagues and look forward to the IFCA continuing to carry out its important work ”.
Al Browne with left to right CEO Mike Hardy, The Duchess of Northumberland Jane Percy, Fishermen’s Missions Area Officer Peter Dade and NIFCA Chair Les Weller at the launch of the NIFCA PV St. Aidan in 2015.
The NIFCA Chair Les Weller said “Al has been a first class officer down the years for the Sea Fisheries Committee and the IFCA, leading by example and bringing all of his great experience to bear in the important work which NIFCA carries out of protecting our inshore fisheries and marine environment along the coast of Northumberland and North Tyneside. On behalf of the NIFCA Members, as well as myself, I give Al every best wish for a long and happy retirement”.
Al Browne during a sea patrol off the Northumberland coast.
NIFCA CEO Mike Hardy said “It has been a pleasure and a privilege for me to work with Al since I first worked on behalf of the Sea Fisheries Committee in 1998, before becoming the Chief Executive in 2003. Al has always adopted an extremely professional approach, he has led his team of Officers extremely well and he has always been a positive and cheerful presence in our office and wherever he has worked. He has also done significant work nationally in planning for the future of the Inshore Fisheries and Marine Environment and he will be missed, but he goes with the very best wishes of myself and all of our colleagues at NIFCA for a long and happy retirement ”.
