inshore fisheries conservation authority

[mark2]

Just got an email from the North West Inshore Fisheries Conservation Authority they are holding a series of meetings up and down the area anyone interested? we can get shore anglers issues voiced or at least get some idea of their plans
especially the ban on fishing around heysham.
heres a copy of their flyer:
North Western IFCA
Community Information
Meetings
28 Feb Liverpool Marina, L3 4BP 7-9pm
4 Mar Cleveleys Community Centre, FY5 1ER 7-9pm
7 Mar Whitehaven Senhouse Centre, 7:30-9:30pm CA28 7ES
13 Mar Morecambe, Christ Church Broadway 7-9pm LA4 5BJ
The North Western Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority is a government authority tasked with managing sustainable inshore fisheries and conserving the marine environment from the Dee Estuary to the Solway Firth.
This is an opportunity for anyone with an interest in the marine environment or inshore fisheries to come and find out about how the NWIFCA operates, ask questions about our work and to meet your local area officer.
We will also give an update on current marine issues, such as the designation of Marine Conservation Zones and European Marine Site management, as well as the proposed new Byelaw prohibiting fishing at Heysham Bass Nursery Area.
There will also be time to discuss other marine issues in the area and if there is anything you particularly feel should be on the agenda, please contact Alasdair Lindop on 01524 727970 or a.lindop@nw-ifca.gov.uk
More information about the NWIFCA, can be found on our website, www.nwifca.org.uk

[thegentlegiant]

Hope some other of you guys will be stranding ill be attending my gerrys hoodie

[Bill Bodger]

I've just arrived home after attending the meeting at Christ Church, Broadway, Morecambe and I cannot describe how disappointed I was in the number of people who are allegedly concerned about their fishing in the Morecambe area. Frankly I was the only person there representing anglers in Morecambe. It was a little embarrassing to be surrounded by about 10 people from the fisheries and a PHD student (Sophia Kochalski) who had travelled up from Liverpool University to give a Talk on what she was doing in conjuction with IFCA.

Enough moaning now. What happened? Briefly:-

Their Science and Communications Officer Alasdair Lindop Talked about Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs). There 19 MCZs recommended in England. 4 of these recommended sites are in the Northwest and include the Cumbria Coast, Fylde offshore, Hilbre island group and North of Celtic Deep. The process is in public consultation which is open until March 31st, 2013.

These have been mentioned in previous posts so I won't go into detail. However, if you would like to know more go to: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/mar ... t/mpa/mcz/

As one of the areas covered Fylde offshore I posited the question of brine being pumped into the bay and how the increased salinity would affect the ecological balance. They said from the modelling they have done (twice now) there should be minimal impact on fish in the area. I asked about the possibility of the heavier saline solution getting into the Lune Deeps and therefore the Bay and I was told this will not happen according to their model. One of the Senior Fisheries Officer advised caution and was told all aspects of the pumping will be monitored intensely. He seemed to be particularly concerned about an area between 2 reefs where there is a channel ( I think its known as threading the needle) where he believes it could have a negative impact on the habitat. He warned this area MUST be monitored as conditions can become disastrous within a couple of days. It was good to hear someone who put his heart and soul into his job and really cares what happens.

Another area I was concerned about was windfarms and their affects on the fish off Walney. My view would be they would offer a man made reef in effect. Barnacles, mussels and other flora and fauna would would attach themselves to the windmills and surrounding rock armour. These would offer some protection to the fry. The fry would be predated on by larger fish. The larger fish (eg Bass) would breed in the area and eventually spill out into other areas. Unfortunately, for some reason, unbeknown to the IFCA this has not happened and until more science is done to investigate they won't know. The reality is around the windmills its "Like a desert" I was told. It may be that it will take some time for any positive results to occur. There is a glimmer of hope here though. The people building the windmills are happy to investigate this type of thing but need some direction as to what is to be investigated. They spend a lot of money on these investigations but the information they have come up with has little relevance to the questions needed for meaningful result.


The next item on the agenda was the Byelaw 5 Update. Prohibition of fishing at Heysham Power Station. The byelaw has now been passed to Defra and it is open to consultation. The last day anyone can object is March 15th 2013. 2 days from nowThis is not a done deal so I would urge each and every one of you that has an objection, be it total objection or would like to see an amended version to go on to the NWIFCA website http://www.nw-ifca.gov.uk and check out how immediately.

I raised the point that in some areas (Dee estuary) a similar scheme was in place and there was a closed season between May 31st and October 1st. Can this be adopted for Heysham as it is between these dates that the majority of damage is done?

The next question I asked was about the boundaries of the no fishing zone. I was making the point that some anglers target conger eel and one of the few conger spots in the area falls within the zone. What was the reason for the boundaries? How did they come to draw them where they did?

The answer was simply the boundaries were set for boats and they have used the same for shore fishing.

I then asked if bait collection was going to be stopped. They said this wasn't a problem at the moment but there may be some measures to stop commercial bait collection at some point.

I must emphasise THIS IS NOT A DONE DEAL. IF YOU HAVE A GRIPE, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT AND WRITE TO THEM NOW

A guest speaker Sophia Kochalski then described a study she was doing on behalf of NWIFCA where she is investigating sustainable inshore ecosystems. The study will be evidence based and will look at creating a shellfish management system which is sustainable from an ecological, social and economic perspective. This is a 3 year study and will include talking to anglers to get a broad picture of what we would like our fisheries to look like. We have exchanged contact details and we shall hopefully have some dialogue soon. I shall keep everyone appraised of what she is asking for. This is a really good chance to make our views known to the people who matter.

Finally there was a brief talk on European Marine Site Management. I won't go into detail although it was interesting and talked about how these sites are to be set up to conserve and protect the environment and its inhabitants going forward.

You all missed out on a very interesting meeting. Alasdair Lindop, Science and Communications Officer, is trying to have these sort of meeting 3 or 4 times a year to get feedback from interested parties. IFCA have never had a Communications Officer before so we should take advantage of this situation. We must be more pro-active and defend our hobby or see it wither and die. He is a person we can have a continued dialogue with, a way to get our views and ideas across.

Tight Lines

Frank aka Bill Bodger

[Rocket Ron]

Excellent read Frank, it seems like you must have been the only one
there questioning. Stirring up a hornets nest couldn't be father away from the
truth, A site for action AA isn't. It seems the way forward is to act alone. Seems were better moaners than activists!

Glad to here in your discussion the lune deeps will be well monitored. As I said before this issue
will be forced through by national government as an issue of national importance ( fuel self sufficiency).
Did you broach the subject of the sea defences at Rossal or is this
something that isn't in IFCA's remit?, or the mussel beds off Walney?
How do you think this student may help?

With regards to the wind farms there were some early studys that fish
were spooked/frightened/ uncomfortable with the vibration and electricity.
Looks like these areas are lost if as they say, its now a dead zone. Guess only time will tell.
Thanks for being my eyes and ears, hopefully something can still be achieved.
Respect RR

[Rushy]

Thanks for a thorough and informative report of the proceedings Frank, much appreciated
I had hoped to attend, but unfortunately this clashed with my Son's 16th birthday, and a long awaited visit from my daughter from deepest darkest Yorkshire.

You asked some good questions which were mentioned by some members on here, so big thanks for representing at least some of the concerns raised on here

I can confirm what Ron has already stated, the vibration and electrical field given off by the windfarm has probably had an adverse effect on the localised environment. Also, I've been through the Walney windfarm on my boat and checked right round the bases of the towers with my boats depth finder and contrary to popular belief there is no rock armour at the bases. I remember the sea floor was completely flat, as the company building the windfarm used a new technique which basically hammered the pipe straight into the seafloor.
I find it disturbing that this outcome of a barren desert wasn't considered prior to the windfarms construction, and that the experts appear puzzled why this has happened. I hope we're not discussing a similar outcome with the Brine outfall pipe.

[Bill Bodger]

Sorry Ron, the sea defences at Rossal didn't come up. However, I had a conversation with a senior officer and he was telling me that the limestone rock armour used can have serious consequences on mussels. Something I wasn't aware of. I don't know the area well enough to make any challenges on subjects pertaining to it. The officer said a granite sea defence was put up and it out performs limestone on all counts.

The question of mussel bed at Walney (more specifically Foulney island) didn't come up in the meeting but I did speak to the officers regarding this topic. The position is at a stale mate for now. The ball is in the landowners court. They have to take their case to High Court to be able to progress their chances of taking mussels from that area. The IFCA are waiting for that to happen before they spend time and resources. So for now at least, there seems to be nothing to worry about.

As far as the PHD student is concerned. Her research will be used as evidence of a way forward for sustainable mussel harvesting. She is looking at a broad spectrum of things including the effect for anglers. She has invited me to talk to her about our needs and concerns. She needs to understand how everything works and the interactions that occur, cause and effect so to speak. The more she knows about our needs the more weight it will carry when the big decisions are made. With the advent of European Marine Site Management in which all government bodies concerned are communicating to try and achieve a sustainable marine ecoculture taking into consideration all aspect including social and economics.

When I have more info I'll post about it. I need to find out what she wants from us first. Watch this space

BB

[Bill Bodger]

I can confirm what Ron has already stated, the vibration and electrical field given off by the windfarm has probably had an adverse effect on the localised environment. Also, I've been through the Walney windfarm on my boat and checked right round the bases of the towers with my boats depth finder and contrary to popular belief there is no rock armour at the bases. I remember the sea floor was completely flat, as the company building the windfarm used a new technique which basically hammered the pipe straight into the seafloor.
I find it disturbing that this outcome of a barren desert wasn't considered prior to the windfarms construction, and that the experts appear puzzled why this has happened. I hope we're not discussing a similar outcome with the Brine outfall pipe.

What you are saying about the rock armour around the windmills is contrary to one of the contributors from Natural England. This guy is pretty well connected and advises government. I wasn't aware of the rock armour until he specifically mentioned it. He said they place a ring of armour around the windmill to stop a wash-pit developing around the base. This armour is made of large lumps of rock. Because of the size of them and their resulting wash-pit smaller rocks are placed around them. This should enhance the reef effect giving shelter for all manner of marine life. The reason this chap (I cannot remember his name sorry!) was so knowledgeable is because he sits on a commitee overseeing the Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and European Marine Sites (EMS). One of these sites has been moved south to include the windfarm off Walney. The reason being the EMS is to protect honeycomb worm and other marine fauna. The reason to move it south was so it didn't have as much economical impact as any fishing in the windfarm area is prohibited. They needed a specific acreage of seabed to fulfill their target conservation area. The rock armour lessened this acreage but was deemed to be negligible.

As far as the brine outfall is concerned it is going to be years before any brine is pumped if they go for that. Giving IFCA plenty of time to put an action plan together to make sure it is monitored. This is why we need to go to these meetings and let them know our concerns and also whether our catches are changing for the good or bad. Although it has been voiced that this is going ahead. I was told it will be an either or situation. If the fracking goes ahead the brine outfall will not and vice versa.

BB

[liphook]

Thanks for attending and reporting back BB. This highlights the apathy of anglers in general but in my experience sea anglers in particular. We should ALL be members of the Angling Trust ! If you are not already then please join. I know it's not viewed as the ideal body by many but together we stand etc etc

[Rocket Ron]

As far as the brine outfall is concerned it is going to be years before any brine is pumped if they go for that. Giving IFCA plenty of time to put an action plan together to make sure it is monitored. This is why we need to go to these meetings and let them know our concerns and also whether our catches are changing for the good or bad. Although it has been voiced that this is going ahead. I was told it will be an either or situation. If the fracking goes ahead the brine outfall will not and vice versa.
BB

I have been pointed in a direction which may be of help (or not) to those interested in
the salt mine gas project.
I see that BB is hopeful that if fracking goes ahead the brine outfall will not and visa versa.
I don't know who gave this information to you Frank but it is just a pipe dream (pardon the pun).
The storage facility will go ahead regardless of what goes on with the fracking debacle
Please take time to read this case study from the U.k. Energy Research Centre.
Even if you have no interest at all in the subject, it's worth reading to see how how your/our objections have already been dealt with before we know what the issue is going to be about.

The Winsford mines from conception to completion will take roughly 8 years, due to go online in 2014,
despite being on a fault line and only 800 meters from the present salt workings.
If you read the study you will see that in October 2009 the planning process has now been streamlined
to one governmental body.. The Infrastructure Planning Commision. Read how it all works and you
can see that Winsfords 8 years in planning will be hugely reduced.

CASE STUDY

Happy Reading RR
Ps Ruthie this may be of particular use to you... If you know what they know it's easier to put a spanner into the works. Will only delay the inevitable I'm afraid though.

[Bill Bodger]

Thanks for that Ron.....A bit of light reading before bed

I haven't read through it yet but I wish I had before the meeting. I could have extended the meeting even longer. I had already doubled the time they had allotted with all my questions