Read about the achievements of D&S IFCA set out in its Annual Report 2025/2026
Background
D&S IFCA has the largest of the ten IFCAs’ districts and has two separate coastlines. The area of the District is 4,522km² and is defined in the Statutory Instrument (2010 No. 2212). D&S IFCA’s District includes the areas of Devon and Gloucestershire County Councils; Bristol and Plymouth City Councils; North Somerset Council; Torbay, Somerset and South Gloucestershire Councils and all adjacent waters out to six nautical miles offshore or the median line in the Bristol Channel with Wales.
The fisheries and marine environment are markedly different on the two coasts. The north coast of the District from Somerset to the east up the Severn estuary is characterised by significant tidal ranges, large amounts of suspended sediment, and extensive mudflat habitats that support a range of different types of net fisheries and significant recreational angling. The Devon coasts and estuaries in contrast are known for their diverse fisheries including significant pot fisheries, the largest mobile fishing fleet operating in any IFCA District and an extensive network of Marine Protected Areas.
The Full Authority is comprised of 30 Members drawn from relevant Local Authorities (Councillors), General Members (appointed to the Authority by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO)) and Statutory Appointees representing the Environment Agency (EA) and Natural England (NE).
Annual Report 2025/2026
As specified in the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, D&S IFCA must publish an Annual Report.
The 2025-2026 Annual Report can be read here.
The Report details the work undertaken in FY 2024/25 and provides a summary of progress and achievements as measured against objectives set in the 2025/26 Annual Plan (the Authority’s goals) and as measured against the national IFCA success criteria and high-level objectives (outcomes).
A small team of Officers (12.6 FTE) delivered the Annual Plan. The Annual Report reflects that the priority workstreams were those that received national funding.
Professor Mike Williams, Chair of the Authority said….
“The Annual Report provides the platform to report on work undertaken as part of the Annual Plan for 2025/2026. Despite severe financial constraints there have been some significant achievements, and these are detailed in this report. However, worthy of particular mention is the involvement of D&S IFCA Officers in relation to the potential impact of Hinkley power station on fish and the marine environment, the proposed management under the MMO’s Stage 3 MPA management byelaws and the impact of the octopus bloom on the Devon shellfish industry. Considerable success has also been achieved by the Enforcement Team, most noticeably in the investigation of a ten day incursion by a mobile gear vessel into an MPA. This investigation was only possible because D&S IFCA has imposed more stringent IVMS reporting requirements than the MMO’s national conditions. This underlines the essential ability of an IFCA to tailor compliance over and above national standards in order to meet locally acceptable levels of environmental protection”.
“I hope that this Annual Report will help all readers to gain a better understanding of the work that is being delivered by the dedicated staff of D&S IFCA and the value that this organisation has, as it continues to strive to meet its statutory duties, and the expectations of all stakeholders”.
More Information
A website page has been developed to display all recent Annual Plans and Annual Reports. The website page “Annual Business Plans & Reports” can be viewed here.