Community Outreach
Seized Gear Auction Benefits Coastal Heroes
NIFCA has raised £4,450 for charity through an online auction of seized fishing equipment. The auction featured three fleets of lobster pots. The gear had been seized earlier this year after failing to comply with local IFCA byelaws. A report of the seizure was made, as required under the Marine and Coastal Access Act, but no one came forward to claim the equipment. NIFCA members agreed that the proceeds from the online auction should go to charity, with the Fishermen’s Mission and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), chosen as the beneficiaries with each organisation to receive £2,225.
To select which RNLI station within the NIFCA district would benefit, all 8 local stations were placed into a draw, with Berwick-upon-Tweed RNLI picked as the recipient. Speaking about the donations, Mark Southerton, Chief Officer at NIFCA, said: “We are delighted that the proceeds from this auction can support two charities which play such a vital role in our coastal communities. The Fishermen’s Mission and the RNLI are vital to the wellbeing and safety of those working at sea, and we’re proud to be able to contribute to their work.”
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