Page review/updated 05/11/2025

(Content of page last updated: 5th November 2025)

COMPLETED CONSULTATIONS

We would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to respond to any of our consultations. All of our consultation work (often called “Have your Say” or “Call for Information”) can help to inform the decision making of D&S IFCA’s Byelaw & Permitting Sub-Committee (B&PSC) or be used for other work such as informing assessments for Marine Conservation Zones.

This page helps you to see the range of more recent consultation work that has now ended. All of the byelaw/permit condition related engagement work is documented. The reports relating to the different consultations can be read by using links below or by visiting Section F of our Resource Library – Byelaw Development Reports. Officers’ papers that are presented at Byelaw & Permitting Sub-Committee meetings which can be found in Section B of our Resource Library or on our Authority Meetings page.

Consultations and Decision Making – Potting Permit Conditions

Amended Potting Permit Conditions are being circulated and will come into force on 7^th November 2025. 

During 2024 and 2025 the D&S IFCA Byelaw and Permitting Sub-Committee (B&PSC) discussed the management of pot fisheries in the District.  During this time the B&PSC was made aware of the views of fishers gathered during port meetings and from informal consultation (Have Your Say) that began on 18^th October 2024 and ended on 15^th November 2024. The responses to the informal consultation can be read here.

In 2025 the B&PSC focussed on a potential prohibition, from fishing in the District, on all potting vessels that are equipped with one or more vivier tanks below the uppermost continuous deck with a volume (in aggregate) that exceeds two cubic metres.  This potential prohibition became the proposal from the B&PSC for formal consultation that began on 25^th April 2025 and ended on 23^rd May 2025.

On 26^th June 2025 the B&PSC considered the responses submitted in the formal consultation. The B&PSC also considered advice from D&S IFCA Officers to amend their proposal and include the words “whilst fishing in the District”. 

The formal consultation report and two relevant Officers papers containing advice to Members can be read using the links below:

• Formal Consultation Report – Amendments to the Potting Permit Conditions

• The Officers’ advice – Amendments to the Potting Permit Conditions (June 2025)

• The Officers’ advice – Amendments to the Potting Permit Conditions (October 2025)

On 16^th October 2025 the B&PSC agreed to the change to the Potting Permit Conditions.

REVIEW OF THE NETTING PERMIT CONDITIONS 2023/2024

The review began in 2023 and went on to include different stages of consultation and decision making. The review reached its conclusion in February 2024 when the B&PSC determined what changes to make to the Netting Permit Conditions. Amended Netting Permit Conditions came into force on 1st July 2024.

The Final Report that documents the entire process can be read here using this link.

FORMAL CONSULTATIONS ON THE PROPOSED INTRODUCTION OF TWO NEW BYELAWS

Mobile Fishing Permit Byelaw 2022 – Update

The formal consultation regarding the proposed Mobile Fishing Permit Byelaw 2022 (MFPB 2022) ended on 20th January 2023. D&S IFCA wish to thank all those that had their say. The responses were collated and a report was prepared for discussion by D&S IFCA’s Byelaw and Permitting Sub-Committee in February 2023. The consultation report can be read here. Following this the MFPB 2022 was prepared for quality assurance by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO). In September 2025 the MFPB 2022 was sent to Defra by the MMO and could be confirmed soon.

Size of Fishing Vessels Byelaw 2022 – Confirmed

The formal consultation regarding the proposed Size of Fishing Vessels Byelaw 2022 ended on 20th January 2023. D&S IFCA wish to thank all those that had their say. The responses were collated and a report was prepared for discussion by D&S IFCA’s Byelaw and Permitting Sub-Committee in February 2023. The consultation report can be read here. Following this the Size of Fishing Vessels Byelaw 2022 was prepared for quality assurance by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO). After this the Byelaw was sent to Defra by the MMO. The Size of Fishing Vessels Byelaw 2022 is now confirmed. A signed copy (from Defra) was received by the Chief Officer on 7th May 2024.

Other Completed Consultations 

All of the byelaw/permit condition related engagement work is documented. The reports relating to the different consultations can be read by visiting Section F of our Resource Library – Byelaw Development Reports – or by examining the Officers’ papers that are presented at Byelaw & Permitting Sub-Committee meetings which can be found in Section B of our Resource Library.