Covid-19 and Delays to Management
This update is to advise on the status of our current work towards developing management measures for potting activity on the Cromer Shoal Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ), and on our work towards developing sustainability measures for crab and lobster stocks across the whole Eastern IFCA district.
Eastern IFCA has engaged in extensive discussions with industry for both projects. This has involved informal consultations, working groups, and ongoing discussions between industry members and our officers. This engagement is important to ensure that all management measures developed by Eastern IFCA are well informed.
Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and associated restrictions, we are currently unable to continue the informal and formal consultation work that is integral to the development of management measures. This will result in delays to the development and operation of management measures.
The uncertainty of the current situation means that we are unable to say when our engagement work will resume, but should the restrictions continue for a prolonged period we will consider alternative ways of working.
We would like to thank members of the fishing industry for their contribution so far and we look forward to continuing to work together when the current restrictions are lifted.
Information about support for fishermen during this time can be found on our website: https://www.eastern-ifca.gov.uk/support-for-the-fishing-industry-during-covid-19/.
To keep up to date with Eastern IFCA as this situation progresses, sign up to our new newsletter update on our website: www.eastern-ifca.gov.uk
You can also follow us on social media, on facebook: @eastern.ifca, and on twitter: @eastern_ifca
We will provide further updates as this situation changes.