Informal Consultation: Managing access to Wash bivalve fisheries

Updated: 19/12/2020 – This consultation is now closed.

 

Eastern IFCA are consulting with fishers in The Wash bivalve fisheries as part of the work to replace the Wash Fishery Order (WFO) 1992 by January 2023.

The WFO 1992 is the mechanism which manages the mussel, cockle, clams, scallops and queens fisheries within The Wash estuary embayment. The WFO will be replaced with a permit byelaw when it expires in 2023, to manage the fisheries currently covered by the Order. The several fishery (lays) under the Order, which grants exclusive fishing rights to individuals for purpose of aquaculture, will continue to be managed by a Several Order.

We have developed an aim and objectives for managing access to bivalve fisheries in The Wash. A summary of the consultation, including the aim and objectives can be found here. The aim and objectives are intended to guide discussion and help provide a framework to develop new policies on managing access to the fishery.

The deadline for responses to this consultation is midday on 18th December 2020.

Making your comments

This consultation is to seek the views of fishers in The Wash bivalve fisheries on our approach to managing access.

Click here to respond to the consultation by submitting a response to the questionnaire.

If you require a printed copy of this questionnaire, please contact the office and we will post you a printed copy. There are 12 main questions in the questionnaire. It should take approximately 30 minutes to complete.

If you would prefer instead to write your response to this consultation, please send your responses addressed to: The CEO, to this address.

Your questions about the consultation

Attend our consultation drop-in session on 13th November 2020 at 15:00hrs to discuss the aim and objectives in detail and to ask any questions you may have about the new byelaw and the replacement of the WFO 1992.

This meeting will take place online using Zoom. Email us to register your interest in attending at mailto:mail@eastern-ifca.gov.uk

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic we are unable to hold in-person meetings to discuss this consultation. However, if you cannot attend this meeting please continue to write to or call us with your questions.

What happens after the consultation closes?

After the consultation deadline when we have received all the questionnaires and written responses, the results will inform the development of the new policies that will provide the foundation to the permit system under the new byelaw.

Once the policies have been drafted, we will hold another consultation for you to have your say.

We are committed to meaningful engagement with industry to further understand the potential impacts of management decisions on fishery livelihoods. We take these into account alongside our obligations to maintain sustainable fisheries and healthy environments.

Further information

A summary of the consultation including the aim and objectives can be found here

The information you provide will be processed in accordance with our privacy notice found here.

 

 

 

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