1.
The new Association of
IFCAs
Challenges and
Opportunities
SAGB 43rd Annual
Conference – 22nd May
Dr. Stephen Bolt, Chief Executive Officer

2.
Outline
 Background
 IFCAs and the Association
 Challenges and Opportunities
 Step change in marine management
 CFP
 MPA
 Other
 Conclusion
 Questions

3.
The Marine Environment is
unique and challenging
 UK is a maritime country with a rich heritage
 The seas provide multiple “ecosystem services”
UK national ecosystem Assessment
June 2011. – marine habitats provide a
range of ecosystem services and
benefits of significant value to UK
society including:
Food (fish & shellfish), reduction in
climate stress, genetic resources, blue
biotechnology, natural medicines,
fertiliser, coastal protection, waste
detoxification, pest control, tourism,
leisure and recreation opportunities.

4.
Marine management – a step
change?
 Challenges (and opportunities):
 Multiple uses and multiple agendas
 Growing need to protect marine environment
 Unsustainable global fisheries – failed CFP
 Complex picture
 Complex management and multiple stakeholders
 Increasing tendency for legal challenge
 Sound scientific knowledge patchy and expensive
 Move to Integrated marine planning
 Move to Ecosystem Services

5.
Inshore Fisheries & Conservation
Authorities April 2011
 A new type of regulator
 New duties to include
Conservation – additional
“new burdens” money
 English Coast – including
Isles of Scilly
 Local Authority landward
boundaries
 Estuaries to tidal limit
including all sea fish
except migratory fish
 Out to 6 miles from
baseline

6.
IFCA vision
“Inshore Fisheries and Conservation
Authorities will lead, champion and manage a
sustainable marine environment and inshore
fisheries, by successfully securing the right
balance between social, environmental and
economic benefits to ensure healthy seas,
sustainable fisheries and a viable industry.”

7.
IFCA duties set out in
MACAA
 Work in partnership With Defra, MMO, NE, EA
and other agencies
 Manage marine resources sustainably
 Balance all (not just fishing) interests
 Protect and recover the marine environment
using byelaws where needed
 Further the objectives of marine protected areas
 Develop fisheries

8.
The Association of IFCAs –
September 2011
 Funded through Defra “New burdens”
 The aim of the A-IFCA is to assist and
promote the regional IFCAs to ensure that
the authorities develop a leading and
effective national role in fisheries and
conservation management in line with the
IFCA vision.
 Engage with the regional IFCA Officers and members
 Engage with Statutory bodies at a National level
 Engage with other influential bodies such as fishery
organizations (SAGB), NGOs etc
 Promote the work of the IFCAs

9.
Challenges – Step change in
marine protection
 Review of the Common Fisheries
Policy
 Strong on intent
 Weak on solutions
 One size fits all does not work – support
for localism/regionalism
 IFCA model – bottom up regulation
 Discards

10.
Challenges – Step change in
marine protection
 Well managed coherent network of Marine
Protected Areas by 2016 - >25% target
 European marine Sites
 Special Areas of Conservation (SACs)
 Special Protection Areas (SPAs)
 Ramsar
 SSSIs
 Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs)
 Water Framework Directive (WFD)
 Good Ecological Status to 1 mile via programme of measure
 Marine Strategic Framework Directive

11.
MPA network

12.
Marine Strategy Framework Directive
 Good Environmental Status by 2020
 Programme of measures established
2015
 Programme of measures implemented
2016
 Good Environmental Status achieved by
2020(!)
 11 descriptors to achieve GES

13.
MSFD descriptors
1. Biological diversity
2. Non-indigenous species
3. Population of commercial fish / shell fish
4. Elements of marine food webs
5. Eutrophication
6. Sea floor integrity
7. Alteration of hydrographical conditions
8. Contaminants
9. Contaminants in fish and seafood for human consumption
10. Marine litter
11. Introduction of energy, including underwater noise

14.
Other
Challenges/opportunities
 Climate change
 Wind Farms
 Other large scale sea uses
 Marine Planning
 CFP Aquaculture
 Financial context
 IFCA/Association model reliant on appropriate funding stream (2015)
 European funding
 Recession
 instability

15.
Conclusion
 Step Change in marine management
 Ecosystem services
 Well managed coherent network
 New type of regulator
 Balance between Social, economic and
environmental
 Financial constraints
 Partnership working

16.
Any questions?
Stephenbolt@Association-IFCA.org.uk www.association-ifca.org.uk