Invitation to Those Who Fish Recreationally With Pots to Apply for Permits The NWIFCA Potting Permit Byelaw 2020 was submitted to Defra for final sign off on 15th February 2022, having been through the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) quality assurance process with the recommendation that the byelaw is confirmed by the Secretary of State. It is likely that the byelaw will be confirmed in the following month/s. NWIFCA is inviting stakeholders who recreationally fish with pots to apply for a Category 2 permit using the application form available at the bottom of the page. The NWIFCA is continuing to carry out the administrative exercise prior to the byelaw being signed to ensure the byelaw can be practically implemented as swiftly as possible once the Secretary of State confirms the byelaw. No payments will be accepted until the byelaw is confirmed, at which point providing all the requirements for obtaining a permit have been met, applicants will be contacted to make payment. All permits will be valid for the period 1 October to 30 September the following year. Upon confirmation of the byelaw, the first permit shall be valid for the remainder of the first 12 months to 30 September, and…

All byelaw 3 permit holders are reminded that the cockle closed season commences on 1 May. No cockle fishing in the District is permitted  from 1 May to 31 August 2021. Fishing for mussel above the Minimum Conservation Reference Size (45mm length) is permitted. Fishing for undersize (seed) mussel is not permitted anywhere in the District. Seed mussel areas may be opened later in the year subject to survey and HRA. Announcements of openings will be  on the website as usual. Following the recent consultation on whether to allow cockle fishing in May, the Authority has considered responses from byelaw 3 permit holders and concluded that all cockle beds should shut as planned on 1st May 2021. Feedback from permit holders in the consultation will be discussed at the Technical, Science and Byelaws Subcommittee on Tuesday 18th May. NWIFCA will continue to assess the cockle stocks within the district and further consider management options for any potential opening of cockle beds for the 2021/2022 season.

The byelaw described below has been approved and made by the Authority. In accordance with Defra’s byelaw making process the Authority must now advertise the byelaw and provide a consultation period before it can be signed by the Minister to bring it into force. Byelaw 2 North Wirral Foreshore Bivalve Molluscs The byelaw prohibits removal of any bivalve shellfish from a defined area of the Wirral foreshore to protect stocks overfished in 2020. An exception is included to allow for commercial cockle gathering under a NWIFCA Byelaw 3 permit. Links to a full copy of the byelaw and Regulatory Impact Assessment is provided in the next section.  If you wish to comment or object to the byelaw please see the instructions below. The consultation closes on Friday 5th March 2021.  Copies of the Byelaw and How to Comment View Byelaw 2: North Wirral Foreshore Bivalve Molluscs (pdf) View the Regulatory Impact Assessment for Byelaw 2: North Wirral Foreshore Bivalve Molluscs (pdf) Printed copies of the full byelaw are available from NWIFCA, 1, Preston Street, CARNFORTH, Lancashire, LA5 9BY. Any person who wishes to object to the confirmation of the byelaw must send a statement of their objection in writing to…

The byelaw described below has been approved and made by the Authority. In accordance with Defra’s byelaw making process the Authority must now advertise the byelaw and provide a consultation period before it can be signed by the Minister to bring it into force. Byelaw 1 Minimum Conservation Reference Sizes 2021 The byelaw prohibits the removal, transshipment, landing, transport storage and sale of fish below specified sizes for the main species caught within the NWIFCA District. Exceptions for commercial fishing for certain pelagic shoaling species and for herring caught with a correctly set whitebait filter net are defined. Links to a full copy of the byelaw and Regulatory Impact Assessment is provided in the next section.  If you wish to comment or object to the byelaw please see the instructions below. The consultation closes on Friday 5th March 2021.  Copies of the Byelaw and How to Comment View Byelaw 1: Minimum Conservation Reference Sizes (pdf) View the Regulatory Impact Assessment for Byelaw 1: Minimum Conservation Reference Sizes (pdf) Printed copies of the full byelaw are available from NWIFCA, 1, Preston Street, CARNFORTH, Lancashire, LA5 9BY. Any person who wishes to object to the confirmation of the byelaw must send a…

From the sea to the door: New grant scheme to support seafood businesses in England to sell catches New £1 million grant scheme opened today to increase supply of local seafood Seafood businesses can bid for funds for assets and infrastructure to sell seafood Part of a £10 million fund for England’s fishing and aquaculture sectors The government has today opened for applications a new Domestic Seafood Supply Scheme, which will fund projects that will help seafood businesses in England increase the supply of local seafood to domestic markets. The £1 million scheme, first announced by Defra and HM Treasury on 17 April, is part of a £10 million fund for England’s fishing and aquaculture sectors that have been adversely impacted by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. As well as this financial support, qualifying seafood businesses may also qualify for other Government support. MMO has produced a guide to what is available. This scheme will help seafood businesses adapt to changes in their markets caused by COVID-19 by helping fund changes to businesses and/or infrastructure that will help them to sell their products domestically, and support projects that increase domestic consumption of seafood landed or processed in England. The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) will accept…

NWIFCA would like to thank those of our stakeholders who submitted consultation responses to the proposed Potting Permit Byelaw. Having considered all of the comments and suggestions some amendments were referred back to the Technical Science and Byelaws Sub-Committee. These were also circulated informally to industry for any further comments. TSB approved these amendments at its meeting on 4th February. The amended byelaw will now be submitted to the full Authority for making at its March (19th) meeting. The full amended byelaw with paper explaining the amendments will be published on this website.

This consultation has now closed. The following byelaw has been made by the Authority. Before seeking confirmation by the Defra Minister the Authority must consult stakeholders. If you wish to submit an objection you must write to both the addresses provided in the “How to Comment” section below. The consultation period will end on 8 November 2019. Byelaw 3 Cockle and Mussel Hand Fishing Permit 2019 The revised byelaw includes the following main changes from the current Byelaw 3: The number of new permits issued each year from the waiting list is increased from 10 to 20. A cap of 150 permits in total. Changes to permit conditions will be possible without a requirement to remake the byelaw following stakeholder consultation. The provision for support worker permits is ended. Additional commercial areas are created. The time limit for permit renewal has been brought forward. Permits must now be renewed for the next permit period by 31 July in the year they expire. A penalty point system for permit suspensions. Provision for young people to join the waiting list from the age of 12. Copies of the Byelaw Copies of the byelaw and regulatory impact assessment are available below as a…

This consultation has now closed. The following byelaw has been made by the Authority. Before seeking confirmation by the Defra Minister the Authority must consult stakeholders. If you wish to submit an objection you must write to both the addresses provided in the “How to Comment” section below. The consultation period will end on 8 November 2019. Byelaw 4 Potting Permit 2019 The byelaw includes the following main changes to the regulation of fishing with pots: Permits for fishing from licensed vessels with a fee of £200 per year. Permits for fishing from unlicensed vessels or from the shore with a fee of £20 per year. Changes to permit conditions will be possible following stakeholder consultation without a requirement to remake the byelaw. Separate permits for crab and lobster, whelk, and nephrops. New gear marking requirements. Copies of the Byelaw Copies of the byelaw and regulatory impact assessment are available below as a pdf files: Click here to download a copy of the Byelaw Click here to download the Flexible Permit Conditions Click here to download the guidance on track record for Whelk Permits Click here to download the Regulatory Impact Assessment Physical copies are available on request from NWIFCA,…

As part of the development of Byelaw 3 Cockle and Mussel Hand Fishing Permit 2019, NWIFCA  are conducting further informal consultation with all stakeholders on the management measures included in the new byelaw. This represents all stakeholders’ opportunity to have input into the proposed management measures. The comments will be anonymised and reported to the Technical Science and Byelaws Sub-Committee (TSB) on Tuesday 14 May 2019. Please send comments on the draft byelaw in writing to the addresses below. Click here to download a copy of the draft Byelaw 3. Please submit all comments in writing by email or post to [email protected] Post: NWIFCA, 1 Preston Street, Carnforth, Lancashire, LA5 9BY The deadline for stakeholder input is Wednesday 1 May 2019.

The consultation on Byelaw 3 (Permit to fish for cockles and mussels) has now closed. NWIFCA would like to thank everyone who has taken part. The submissions will now be collated and a summary report will be presented to the Technical Science and Byelaw Sub-Committee on 8th August 2017. A copy of the report, once complete, will be available for download here. Please do not submit new consultation responses as they cannot be considered.

Clarification (Published 08/06/17) The NWIFCA have received several requests to issue clarification on what is meant by a “Flexible Permit Scheme”. A Flexible Permit Scheme means the conditions of the permit may change fishery to fishery. The flexibility is not intended to relate to the numbers of permits available. A specific question about the management and number of permits is included in the consultation. NWIFCA are reviewing Byelaw 3 (Permit to Fish for Cockles and Mussels) and are conducting an informal consultation with all stakeholders on the management measures to be included in the new byelaw. Subject to consultation it is the IFCA’s intention that the new byelaw will regulate hand gathering of Cockles and Mussels across the district and will include a flexible permit scheme and the regulation of those buying cockles. Where necessary the backgrounds to the measures reference other byelaws which are relevant. This represents all stakeholders’ opportunity to have input into these management measures. The input will be reported to the Technical Science and Byelaws Sub-Committee (TSB) on the 8th August 2017. NWIFCA will only consider written submissions and verbal/phone input cannot be considered. NWIFCA request that you give your reasoning behind your answers. The deadline…

Notice is hereby given that the North Western Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority intends to apply to the Minister for the Department for Environment Food and Rural affairs for the confirmation of the following Byelaws: 1. PROHIBITION ON FOUL HOOKING 2017 This byelaw will prohibit the practice of foul hooking sea fish. It will replace the current NW & NWSFC Byelaw 18  and Cumbria SFC Byelaw 17. Click here to download the full text of the Byelaw. 2. RESTRICTIONS ON THE USE OF A DREDGE 2017 This byelaw will prohibit the use of dredges towed by vessels or vehicles for fishing within the NWIFCA District without a permit. In addition the Authority may attach conditions which may be varied to promote sustainable exploitation of sea fisheries resources. Click here to download the full text of the Byelaw. Any person who wishes to object to the confirmation of these byelaws must send a statement of their objection in writing to both the Marine Conservation and Enforcement Team, Marine Management Organisation, P.O. Box  1275, Newcastle, NE99 5BN (or [email protected]), and the North Western IFCA, 1 Preston Street, Carnforth, Lancashire, LA5 9BY (or [email protected]) within 28 days of the publication of this notice.