Who we are

The Marine and Coastal Access Bill received Royal Assent on 12 November 2009 and introduced a new framework for managing the demands put on our seas, improving marine conservation, and opening up access for the public to the English coast.  The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (MCAA 2009) aimed to ensure clean healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas, by putting in place better systems for delivering sustainable development of the marine and coastal environment.

The Act laid out a structure for a number of key issues including developing and creating Marine Spatial Plans (MSP’s) and Marine Conservation Zones (MCZ’s), and set up a new overarching marine regulator the Marine Management Organisation (MMO).  As part of the Act Sea Fisheries Committees were modernised and gained a range of new powers and duties to become Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities.

The new legislation makes provision for the establishment of the Kent and Essex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation District and for the Authority for that district. The legislation lays out the membership (the Authority is to consist of 21 members), the proceedings of the Authority and how the expenses of the Authority should be divided between the councils.

The legislation also makes clear the number of councillors to sit on the Authority (9) the number of “general members” or MMO appointees 10 (of which one member must be an employee of the MMO) and 2 “additional members” drawn from the Environment Agency and Natural England.

What we do

The authority for an IFC district must manage the exploitation of sea fisheries resources in that district e.g. all animals or plants that live in the sea, including those that are cultivated in the sea and;
a) seek to ensure that the exploitation of sea fisheries resources is carried out in a sustainable way,
b) seek to balance the social and economic benefits of exploiting the sea fisheries resources of the district with the need to protect the marine environment from, or promote its recovery from, the effects of such exploitation,
c) take any other steps which in the authority’s opinion are necessary for the purpose of making a contribution to the achievement of sustainable development,
d) seek to balance the different needs of persons engaged in the exploitation of sea fisheries resources in the district

Protection of Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs): The authority for an IFC district must seek to ensure that the conservation objectives of any MCZ in the district are furthered.

Management of fisheries within Marine Protected Areas (Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), Special Protection Areas (SPA) and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)): manage fisheries within marine protected areas.

Who we work with

The Kent & Essex IFCA recognise the importance of being fully engaged within the community, we see interaction with fishermen during decision making processes and assistance with research projects as essential to success. Over the coming months we will be actively seeking to establish and build close working relationships with all or new stakeholders. We will work with non governmental organisations such as the Wildlife Trusts as well as seeking to actively promote the conservation value of the marine environment.
The Kent & Essex IFCA has been developing close working relationships with other government agencies and organisations such as The Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), Natural England (NE), Environment Agency (EA), Environmental Health Officers, The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and the Marine Conservation Zone Balanced Seas Project.