Cornwall IFCA Takes Action to Protect Local Crustacean Species

In a significant move to safeguard local marine life, Cornwall Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA) has introduced a new byelaw aimed at managing fishing efforts on edible crab and lobster stocks within Cornwall’s inshore waters. This decision follows an extensive stakeholder-led process and was approved during the IFCA meeting on 21 December 2024.

The newly established byelaw will impose restrictions on the size and capacity of commercial fishing vessels targeting crustacean species. This initiative marks the first stage in a broader effort to manage fishing activities for these vital species. The next phase of this management plan will continue to involve key stakeholders from the local fishing community.

A formal consultation period for the new byelaw will commence tomorrow and run until 13 February 2025. This consultation is a crucial step in the byelaw process, and Cornwall IFCA anticipates receiving a diverse range of feedback, both in support of and against the proposed measures. The responses will be reviewed at the next IFCA meeting in March 2025, where members will deliberate on the feedback and decide whether to submit the byelaw to the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) for confirmation by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). The confirmation process may take several months, and the byelaw will not be enacted until it is completed.

For more information, please visit the Cornwall IFCA website at www.cornwall-ifca.gov.uk