Latest News

Southern IFCA recruiting for Finance and Administration Manager. Closing date 22^nd October 2021. Please see details on the vacancies page (here)Southern IFCA recruiting for Finance and Administration Manager. Closing date 22^nd October 2021. Please see details on the vacancies page.

It has been six months since our new website went live! The website was an immediate success with twenty-one people completing our feedback form in its first month. The resounding majority loved and were extremely positive about it. Feedback included the comments: 'easy to navigate', 'looks very professional', 'very informative' and 'like the pictures'. A couple of visitors noticed a minor teething error that the minimum sizes were missing so we quickly added this to several pages. 

Behind the scenes the work on the website has continued led by Debbie, IFCO Griffiths and IFCO Smith. Our officers have had to learn how to edit the website. For some pages this is as simple as amending text and replacing images, however for other pages editing requires an understanding of the computer code which programmes how the website looks and works. In some instances, good old-fashioned trial and error have come into play when working out exactly which lines of code are needed to achieve the specific function. For example, the code needed to make our news articles ‘dropdown’ and the settings required to make images adapt to different screen sizes. Of course, if we really get stuck our web developers Toolkit are always happy to help make an edit or teach us how to.

We have fully utilised this exciting resource since it went live posting many news articles, used pages such as ‘Live consultations' for the first time and have uploaded more than eight new pages including:

• Minimum Sizes

• Fishing For Sale Permit Page

• Key Species

• Drone and ROV

• and.. all our News items!

Continue checking in regualrly with our webiste to keep up to date with the latest information! Read Less

Southern IFCA have published the annual bivalve survey results for Poole Harbour. The survey gathered data on the catch per unit effort (CPUE) and size of clams and cockles throughout the Harbour.

CPUE has remained consistent with that seen in 2019 indicating that the clam population remains stable.

See the full survey results on our Fisheries and Research Poole Harbour Fisheries page.

In 2015 Southern IFCA worked with local angling representatives to develop the Recreational Angling Sector Group in line with Southern IFCAs recreational angling strategy. The group is facilitated by the IFCA and I provide the secretariat duties for the group. The group is chaired owned by the anglers making up its membership.

The group has a number of aims, but those identified in the terms of reference are:
 

I have found working with this group particularly interesting and useful. It has formed an important part Southern IFCA’s work to date, most recently feeding into the development of the Piers code of conduct. Having feedback from the group will be vital moving forward, particularly with workstreams such as the MCRS review and Bream MCZ management on the horizon. The access it provides officers to a key stakeholder group is really useful and I hope to continue working closely with members of the group in the future. Read Less

Southern IFCA have completed the first baseline survey of scallops in the Solent. The survey gathered data on the catch rate and size of king scallops (Pecten maximums) on the Eastern side of the Solent. We found a good number of scallops in the area ranging in size from 5 cm to 14 cm in width.

See the full survey results on the Fisheries and Research Solent Dredge Fisheries page.

Southern IFCA will use this baseline survey data to compare to future survey results. The evidence will be used to inform future management measures for the scallop fishery under our Solent Dredge Permit.

In 2020 I helped to work on the issuing of leases for the Poole Fishery Order 2015 for the next five-year period (2020-25). During this process, the use of Pacific oysters as an aquaculture species was discussed due to their designation as an Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS). This discussion led to an in depth look at the science behind this species including whether any wild populations were forming as a result of the aquaculture activity.

The Pacific oyster has been present in Poole since 1890 and the Harbour is currently the largest Pacific oyster production area in England. It is an important aquaculture species with a total economic activity value in Poole of over £2 million annually. This is an interesting topic and one which is also at the forefront nationally with Defra poised to issue a position paper on the use of this species in aquaculture in the future.

From our local perspective, we identified that up-to-date scientific data was needed on the occurrence of any wild Pacific oyster population in Poole Harbour. We are now working with the University of Southampton to run a survey to assess the population of wild Pacific oysters in Poole Harbour as part of a Masters project. The aim is to carry out this survey for the first time during the summer of 2021 covering a variety of different shore locations across the Harbour. The data from the survey will be used alongside other relevant data sources, such as indications of levels of natural change in wild Pacific oyster populations, to help inform future reviews of management measures. We will be liaising with Natural England following the initial survey to discuss the results and develop an ongoing survey program and a Monitoring and Control Plan for the fishery. Read Less

Southern IFCA have recently been working with a number of partner agencies, including the MMO, MCA, RNLI, Dorset Police, Dorset Police Marine Unit, Dorset Police Rural Crime Unit, PHC and BCP council, to engage with various stakeholders, recreational vessels and personal watercraft users regarding wildlife disturbance in Dorset. 

To find out more, please follow this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/raising-awareness-of-marine-wildlife-disturbance-in-dorset

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a candidate with a scientific background to become a member of the Southern IFCA and take an active role in fisheries management and marine conservation in the coastal waters of Dorset, Hampshire & the Isle of Wight.

Southern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA) have launched a ‘Call for Information’ in order to gather additional evidence to support and inform our Review of Minimum Conservation Reference Sizes (MCRS) in the Southern IFC District (“the District”).

Southern IFCA has introduced a new Code of Practice for net fishing around piers. The Net Fishing Around Piers Code of Practice is a non-regulatory approach to prevent the use of fishing nets, except landing and drop nets, from within 200m of nine piers in the Southern IFC District. The piers affected are:

• Sandown Pier , Sandown, Isle of Wight;
• Ryde Pier Head , Ryde, Isle of Wight;
• South Parade Pier , Portsmouth, Hampshire;
• Yarmouth Pier , Yarmouth, Isle of Wight;
• Boscombe Pier , Bournemouth, Dorset;
• Bournemouth Pier , Bournemouth, Dorset;
• Swanage Pier , Swanage, Dorset;
• Weymouth Stone Pier , Weymouth, Dorset; and
• Weymouth Pleasure Pier , Weymouth, Dorset.

On 12 ^th May 2021 at Poole Magistrates Court, brothers Andrew Skinner and Christopher Skinner of Poole pleaded guilty to fishing offences.

Southern IFCA have recently been working with heliguy™ to procure a DJI M300 RTK drone for fisheries enforcement, management and research purposes. The DJI M300 RTK drone is fitted with a H20T camera, which has thermal imaging, zoom and wide-angle functions and therefore, will enhance Southern IFCA's enforcement capabilities. The drone will also be utilised for research and conservation, which will feed into current and future management measures.

To read more about Southern IFCA's drone, please see our Drone and ROV page and read the following blog post written by heliguy™ - IFCA USING DJI M300 RTK DRONE FOR UK FISHERIES MANAGEMENT.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN for the Solent Dredge Permit Byelaw.

The byelaw comes into force on the 1^st November 2021 and prohibits the use of a dredge by a vessel in the Solent, Southampton Water, Portsmouth Harbour and Langstone Harbour, unless authorised by a permit.

For details regarding who can apply and how to submit an application, please visit the Solent Permit Application Page.

On 19 ^th April 2021 at Poole Magistrates Court, Mr. Patrick Hennessy of Poole pleaded guilty to charges of Obstructing and Failing to Comply with an enforcement officer from the Southern Inshore Fisheries & Conservation Authority (Southern IFCA).

Southern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority are currently looking for a reliable individual who will undertake administrative tasks which will contribute to the teams’ delivery of sustainable fisheries management within the coastal waters of Hampshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight.

For more information please visit our VACANCIES page.