Formal consultation on Eastern IFCA Byelaws

Eastern IFCA is holding a consultation regarding two byelaws as follows:

  • The Marine Protected Areas Byelaw 2018; and
  • The Shrimp Permit Byelaw 2018

More information on the byelaws is set out below.

The purpose of this consultation is to gather the views of stakeholders and in particular those who will likely be affected by the byelaws.

To take part on the consultation, please send written responses setting out your support, objections or comments addressed to the CEO of Eastern IFCA at the email or postal address below.

Email address: mail@eastern-ifca.gov.uk

Postal address: Eastern IFCA, Unit 6 North Lynn Business Village, Bergen Way, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, PE30 2JG

Please also send a copy of any response to the Marine Management Organisation at either of the following:

  • Email address: IFCAbyelaws@marinemanagement.org.uk

 

  • Postal address: Marine Conservation and Enforcement Team, Marine Management Organisation, Lancaster House, Hampshire Court, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, NE4 7HY.

 

The deadline for responses is noon on the 3rd September 2018. 

Please contact the Eastern IFCA office if you have any questions about the byelaws, associated information or the consultation.

Why is Eastern IFCA introducing new byelaws?

Eastern IFCA has undertaken an assessment of the impacts of shrimp fishing in the Wash and North Norfolk Coast Special Area of Conservation. This assessment concluded that significant effects to the site cannot be ruled out. Therefore, Eastern IFCA intends to introduce mitigation in the form of two byelaws.

A summary of the assessment can be found here

Informal consultations

Eastern IFCA has undertaken extensive consultation over the last three years and in particular with shrimp fishers within the Eastern IFCA district. Eastern IFCA would like to thank all those who have committed time to help Eastern IFCA develop these measures.

A summary of the ways the informal consultation has influenced the development of the byelaws can be found here

Marine Protected Areas Byelaw 2018

The Marine Protected Areas Byelaw 2018 will implement new spatial closures in relation to fishing with bottom-towed-gear.  These closures will be in addition to the closures in place under the Marine Protected Areas Byelaw 2016.  The purpose of this byelaw is to protect the most sensitive habitats from the impacts of trawling with bottom-towed-gear.

A summary of the byelaw can be found here

The wording of the byelaw can be found here

The associated Impact Assessment can be found here

Shrimp Permit Byelaw 2018

The intention of this byelaw is to implement a permit scheme to enable Eastern IFCA to manage fishing effort and fishing practices for shrimp fishing.  This will enable a shrimp fishery outside of areas closed under the Marine Protected Areas Byelaw 2018.

This byelaw will also require fishers to have electronic monitoring devices on their vessels when fishing for shrimp.

A summary of the byelaw can be found here

The wording of the byelaw can be found here

The Permit conditions for Category 1 permits can be found here and Category 2 permits here

The eligibility criteria for a permit can be found here

The associated Impact Assessment can be found here

 

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