SUCCESS CRITERIA
PARTNERSHIP WORKING
Partnership working remains at the heart of NIFCA’s operations and is essential to the successful delivery of the Authority’s statutory duties. During 2025-26, all partnership objectives set out in the Annual Plan were achieved, with collaborative working delivering significant outcomes across enforcement, science, conservation and stakeholder engagement. Through strengthened relationships with organisations including the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), Environment Agency (EA), Natural England (NE), Newcastle University and our constituent councils, NIFCA has continued to maximise resources, share expertise and deliver effective management of the district’s marine environment. Our Environmental Team has played a key role in this collaborative approach. Joint research and monitoring programmes provided high-quality fisheries data to inform management decisions. For example, NIFCA worked with North Eastern IFCA (NEIFCA) using their sledge camera for burrow count surveys, and with Newcastle University to support undergraduates while receiving advice on data collection and analysis. Members of the Environmental Team further strengthened scientific partnerships by joining the Scottish Marine Directorate aboard RV Scotia to undertake a nephrops survey, while the Lead Environmental Officer attended flume tank trials in Denmark to support the development of innovative trawl gear research. International collaboration also featured during the year, with NIFCA hosting representatives from the Ghanaian Fisheries Directorate for a fisheries management knowledge exchange. NIFCA also hosted a visit from Defra, bringing together local fishers and government representatives to discuss the development of Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs), ensuring that local knowledge and industry perspectives contributed to the national fisheries policy agenda. This work with academic, regulatory, industry and international partners has further strengthened NIFCA's reputation for robust science, innovation and community engagement. The Enforcement Team also built strongly on multi-agency collaboration. Joint enforcement actions with the MMO led to significant legal outcomes during the year, including a successful joint prosecution (the first of its kind) resulting in a permit ban across all IFCAs, demonstrating the value of coordinated regulatory action. NIFCA also worked closely with the RNLI in response to a marine Pan-Pan incident, highlighting the importance of effective emergency response arrangements and established operational partnerships. Further cooperation was achieved through joint patrolling and training with the MMO, EA and NEIFCA, while NIFCA maintained close working relationships with Northumbria Police’s Marine Unit, the Tweed Commission and the Marine Directorate. These efforts have delivered immediate enforcement outcomes, strengthened compliance across the district, and reinforced relationships with both the commercial fishing industry and recreational sector. By maintaining dialogue and engagement, NIFCA has been able to identify emerging trends and areas of concern, ensuring management and enforcement remain targeted and effective.
Officers join Scottish Marine Directorate aboard RV Scotia
St Aidan supports local RNLI with pan-pan callout
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Representatives from the Ghanaian Fisheries Directorate join Officers aboard St Aidan
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