January 2019 ,
Public Consultation on the Solent Dredge Permit Byelaw 

Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 Section 155 and 156

Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the above-named Regulation, Southern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority intends to apply to the Minister for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for the confirmation of the following byelaw:
 
Solent Dredge Permit Byelaw
This byelaw prohibits the use of a dredge by means of a vessel within the Solent unless authorised by a Category A or Category B permit. The permits are subject to specific conditions. The byelaw seeks to support the development of sustainable bivalve fisheries in the Solent.

Upon  implementation of this byelaw the Solent Dredge Byelaw will be revoked and the Scallop Dredge Byelaw will be amended.
 
A full text of the above-named Byelaw, supporting papers (Access Policy, Management Intentions Document and a Summary of Provisions guide) and associated assessments (HRAs (SACs & SPAs) and Impact Assessments) can be inspected at the links provided or obtained from the Southern IFCA, 64 Ashley Road, Poole, Dorset BH14 9BN.

Any person wishing to object to the confirmation of the above-named byelaw must send a statement of objection in writing to:
Marine Conservation and Enforcement Team, Marine Management Organisation, Lancaster House, Hampshire Court, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE4 7YH (or IFCAbyelaws@marinemanagement.org.uk) and must send a copy of this statement to the CEO at Southern IFCA, 64 Ashley Road, Poole, Dorset BH14 9BN (or enquiries@southern-ifca.gov.uk). Objections must be received no later than the 28^th February 2019.

Southern IFCA has undertaken a review of net fishing management arrangements for estuary, harbour and pier areas in the district. The eight-week public consultation to seek views on a series of proposed measures closed in December 2018. This consultation process will inform the development of any future management.Documents provided for the call for evidence are listed below.

The Summary of Responses Document for the consultation is available here.
 

Southern IFCA Consultation Document
Southern IFCA Supporting Evidence
DEFRA – Protection of Freshwater and Migratory Species
Environment Agency – Review of Protection Measures for Atlantic Salmon and Sea Trout in Inshore Waters
Natural England – Advice on the Conservation Status of Atlantic Salmon and Sea Trout

Fishing with pots for shellfish, such as whelks, cuttlefish, crabs and lobsters in inshore waters is of great economic and social importance and has been carried out for generations across the coastal communities of Hampshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight.

In order to support coastal communities and the future sustainability of the inshore pot fisheries, the Southern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA) is currently undertaking a review of the existing management arrangements within the district. We are at the beginning of this process and have held this ‘Call for Information’ to take account of your views from the outset.

The information received during this process will be used to consider what, if any, further measures may be taken to support the inshore pot fisheries in the future. If a need for further measures are identified, the Authority will conduct an informal pre-consultation in 2019. Please click on the Summary of Responses to view report.

July 2018
Consultation Summary of Responses - Solent Bivalve FIsheries Review

The Southern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities’ public consultation on the proposal to review the Solent bivalve fisheries closed on the 13th April 2018 after running for a period of 29 days. Based on the outcomes of the pre-consultation held in January 2018, the public consultation focused on the following areas:
(1)  the proposed introduction of a permit byelaw (eligibility and costs);
(2)  the proposed introduction of new management measures within the Solent dredge fishery, with specific regard to the development of a minimum bar spacing on a box dredge;
(3)  the proposed review of existing measures with specific regard to:

 a)    the temporal measures under Section 2(a) of the Solent Dredge Fishing Byelaw 2016;
 b)    the provisions laid out under the Temporary Closure of Shellfish Beds Legacy Byelaw.

Southern IFCA received a total of 28 individual responses to the public consultation to include representatives from the commercial fishing sector, the fish processing and retail sector and conservation bodies.
Please find the ‘ Position Paper & Summary of responses ’ document which has been formulated in response to the feedback received during the recent public consultation period.
Based on the responses received, Southern IFCA intend to postpone the introduction of a permit byelaw during 2018 . This will enable continued and considered engagement with industry to ensure that a bespoke permit byelaw can be introduced in the future, following careful and considered engagement with industry.
Southern IFCA would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your involvement during the pre and public consultations and would welcome your comments on any of the above-named documents.

March 2018,
Pre- Consultation Summary of Responses - Solent Bivalve FIsheries Review

The Southern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities’ (IFCA) pre-consultation on the proposal to review the Solent bivalve fisheries closed on the 21 st January 2018 after running for a period of 21 days. The pre-consultation sought to review the following:

           (1)   the existing management measures governing the Solent bivalve fisheries;

(2)   to consider the possible development of a permit byelaw to enable a flexible approach to the management of these fisheries;

(3)   to seek views on the sustainable exploration of stocks and potential measures that could be introduced to enhance the sustainability of the Solent bivalve fisheries.

Please click on the ‘ Summary of responses ’ paper to view the summary which has been formulated in response to the feedback received during the recent pre-consultation period.
Southern IFCA would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your involvement during this pre-consultation and would welcome your comments on any of the above-named documents.
In addition, please also see the following supporting documents, The Southern IFCA Solent Clam Management Plan  (now adopted) and Solent Oyster Management Plan . These papers seek to provide a vision for the Solent bivalve fisheries and a general framework and specific guidance for implementing a strategic, coordinated and multi-partner approach that seeks to ensure healthy seas, sustainable fisheries and a viable industry moving forward.
If you have any questions regarding the review of management measures in the Solent bivalve fisheries, or the supporting documents thenplease contact the office on 01202 721373 or email enquiries@southern-ifca.gov.uk