national work
Shaping UK Fisheries: IFCAs at Parliament
NIFCA Chief Mark Southerton and Chair Amelia Henderson at Parliamentary Reception
In May, the Association of Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (AIFCA), alongside the ten Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (IFCAs), took part in a pivotal parliamentary reception hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Fisheries Group in London. The event gathered MPs, policymakers, fisheries experts, and industry stakeholders to discuss the future of UK fisheries management in delivering a sustainable and economically viable marine sector. NIFCA was represented by Chief Officer Mark Southerton and Chair Amelia Henderson, who contributed to the open discussions around the challenges facing inshore fisheries and the urgent need for policy tailored to small-scale fishers and rural communities.
The reception followed the release of the ‘Securing Sustainable Inshore Fisheries in the UK’ report, which was published last Autumn. Developed by a consortium of seven organisations across government, industry, academia, and eNGOs, the report draws on the outcomes of two national workshops held in Poole and Whitby. These workshops brought together over 120 participants, including 53 fishers, to identify actionable strategies to sustain viable fishing livelihoods in England. At the event, AIFCA highlighted the need to strike a balance between environmental protection and the economic survival of inshore fishing communities. The decline in the under 10 metre fleet, which comprises 75% of the UK’s active vessels, was a central concern.
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