SO FAR enforcement & ops
of Northumberland IFCA years 15
partnership working
Enforcement and operational work remain central to NIFCA’s role in protecting the district’s inshore fisheries and marine environment. Through patrol activity, inspections, partnership working and targeted operations, Officers work to support compliance, promote responsible fishing practices and ensure regulations are applied fairly and proportionately. Over the years, a number of significant prosecution outcomes have highlighted the importance of effective local enforcement in protecting fisheries and sensitive marine habitats. These have included a 2017 case involving illegal dredging within a prohibited Special Area of Conservation (SAC), a complex 2021 prosecution featuring multiple offences, and two landmark cases in 2025/26: one resulting in a three-year permit ban, and another secured entirely through the use of iVMS data, demonstrating the evolving role of technology in modern fisheries enforcement.
2026 and beyond As NIFCA looks towards 2026 and beyond, Chair Amelia Henderson and Chief Officer Mark Southerton continue to lead the Authority’s commitment to collaborative, locally informed fisheries management. With growing focus on strengthening fisher and community voice, alongside the launch of a new website, NIFCA continues to evolve while remaining connected to the coastal communities it serves. Partnership working has remained central to NIFCA’s approach over the past 15 years. From joint patrols and fish surveys with the MMO, Environment Agency and Tweed Commission, to collaborative research with Newcastle University and operational training exercises with the RNLI, NIFCA continues to work closely with partners to support safer seas and effective local fisheries management.
jan2023
sep2024
jul2025
Nov2022
Strengthening the voices of local fishers, NIFCA continued to develop its Fisher Forums, establishing a regular opportunity for the fishing industry to share feedback, concerns and priorities directly with the Authority’s Chief Officer
NIFCA’s V-Notch Programme makes a return, at the request
NIFCA Environmental Officers joined the Scottish Marine Directorate to support prawn burrow count surveys in Scotland, helping to share expertise and strengthen scientific understanding across organisations
After serving as CEO since NIFCA’s inception, Mike Hardy handed over the reins to long-serving Fisheries Officer Mark Southerton, whose 25 years with the Authority reflect a lifetime of dedication to the organisation and its work
of local fishers. NIFCA releases a short film
highlighting the importance of this collaborative conservation work in supporting the long- term sustainability of local lobster stocks
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