Page review/updated 01/12/2023

Formal Public Consultation – Changes to the Netting Permit Conditions

Your view is important.

D&S IFCA is inviting you to respond to the formal public consultation on proposed amendments to existing commercial and recreational Netting Permit Conditions.  The formal public consultation begins 1^st December 2023 and will end on 19^th January 2024. We are in the process of directly contacting everyone on our (email) mailing list using Mailchimp. We are also writing to permit holders that have not provided an email address.

The formal public consultation circular provides details about what changes are being proposed by Members of the Byelaw and Permitting Sub-Committee and how you can respond. The information is also available in pdf format and can be viewed and downloaded here.

All stakeholders (for example fishermen with permits, recreational anglers, organisations, or anyone with an interest in the marine environment) can respond to each part of the formal public consultation even if they do not conduct commercial or recreational netting within the D&S IFCA’s District. 

Summary of Proposed Changes

Each of the proposed changes are explained in more detail within the formal consultation circular or pdf document. In summary, the formal public consultation focuses on the following:

Proposed Changes: Commercial fishermen using nets.

• The opening of a six-month fixed net fishery within Salcombe Estuary (subject to range of management measures).
• The prohibition of commercial netting in the area defined as the Emsstrom Angling Code of Conduct, in the Torbay area.  

Proposed Changes: Recreational fishermen using nets.

• This includes a series of changes including the introduction of bag limits, an increase in the authorised net length, and requirements relating to combining nets (from a single vessel).
• The prohibition of recreational netting in the area defined in the Emsstrom Angling Code of Conduct, in the Torbay area.  

Other Content – Seeking Your Views:

This formal public consultation will also gather your views on the following:

• Maximum soak times for nets at sea to address the issue of abandoned or lost gear.
• The introduction of Minimum Conservation Reference Sizes for selected finfish species.

Your Response

The formal public consultation is not a questionnaire but does include some prompts to help you set out your response. Your response can be as detailed as you wish and relate to all or any of the proposed changes.

Sending in your response/contacting us

1. Contact us via email – consultation@devonandsevernifca.gov.uk
2. Write to us: D&S IFCA, Brixham Laboratory, Freshwater Quarry, Brixham, TQ5 8BA.
3. Call us to find out more about the formal consultation – 01803 854648 (Extension 856)

What do we do with your information – Privacy Policy.

The formal public consultation includes a privacy notice. D&S IFCA protects any personal data it receives and has a privacy policy which you can read here.  Any personal data submitted in this information collecting process will not be shared with other organisations or placed in the public domain.

What happens next?

The responses submitted in the formal public consultation will be collated and summarised into a report for the Byelaw and Permitting Sub-Committee (B&PSC). In February 2024, the B&PSC will discuss the responses and determine what changes, if any, will be made to the Netting Permit Conditions.

Background Reports & Papers (Links) and keeping you informed.

Reports and Officers’ papers of most significance to this review of the Netting Permit Conditions are available on D&S IFCA’s website:

• The Authority Meetings Tab
• Section B of the D&S IFCA Website Resource Library

We regularly post information about our work on our website/Facebook. Direct communication is often the best way to help you stay informed about our work and to highlight the opportunities for you to have your say on a range of topics or issues. If you are not already on our mailing list, then you can get yourself added by contacting D&S IFCA. You will then be directly notified of all our consultations.

COMPLETED CONSULTATIONS

More information regarding a range of completed consultations can be viewed here.