PRESENT:NIFCA Members:
Mr G R Arckless (Chairman), Mr L Weller (Vice Chairman), Ms L Grimshaw, Mrs C Hedley, Mr D Herriott, Dr M Kitching, Mrs J Lee, Mr A Ritchie, Dr C Scott, Mrs E Simpson, Mr I Thomas, Mr D Thompson, Mr J Walton, Mr D Watkin and Mr J Woodman.
NIFCA Officers: Mr M H Hardy (Chief Executive), Chief IFCO A B Browne,
Deputy Chief IFCO (Environmental) J Green, Environmental IFCO
S Aftergood and IFCO/Engineer J Cooke.
Also in attendance were Mr A Newlands from MMO, Mrs R Hepburn from
RSPB and Mr T Dixon from Natural England.
3.1Introduction of New Members, Declarations of Interest and Apologies For
Absence:
The Chairman introduced members Lynn Grimshaw and David Thompson who were both attending their first General Committee quarterly meeting.There were no declarations of interest. Apologies for absence were receivedfrom Mr M Bould,
Mr B Burdis, Professor N Polunin, Mr N Robinson and
Mr JStephenson. The Chairman also confirmed that notice had just been received from Environmental IFCO Aftergood of her resignation and intention to returnto her homeland of Canada and on behalf of the Authority the Chairmanthanked her for the work she had undertaken since becoming aNorthumberland IFCO at the beginning of April 2013 and gave her every best wish for the future.
3.2 Presentation by Environmental IFCO Sarah Aftergood with Dr Catherine Scott
Regarding EMS article 6 plus Marine SPAs by Tim Dixon (Natural England)
The above presentations were received by the meeting and copies are annexed to these minutes. There were then questions particularlyto Tim Dixon and he confirmed that he would seek help from interested parties regarding socio-economics. The Vice Chairman stressed the need not to make the mistake of working out management and only then looking at impacts. The Chairman expressed his concern at the size of the SPA which is beingproposed and that Coquet Island is in his area, adjacent to Amble which has the largest surviving fishing fleet in Northumberland and he said on behalf ofthe Authority that he has an abiding concern about the right balance continuing to be struck between conservation and fisheries and he had formed the impression that English Law will give due consideration to that but EULaw will not and that, with the pressure from the Marine Conservation Society and Client Earth, EU Law will take precedence. The Chairman reiterated his recognition of the importance of conservation but he wished to stress right at the beginning of this exercise the importance of the other side of the equation.
In response to a question Tim Dixon said he could not say how much the local Puffin population has changed, but he stressed that this ispre consultation informal dialogue. Mr Watkin also said that accountneeded to be taken of the influence of other species and from the terrestrial perspective he referred to attempts to increase populations of ground nesting birds which have nevertheless been wiped out bybadgers and are there not similar pressures at sea? He also said that he thought what in fact is now most under threat is fishermen and thefishing industry and not birds. Mr Weller said that what frightens himmost is the “precautionary approach” overruling common sense and dialogue must begin with that in mind. Mr Woodman asked how otherspecies for the SPA are chosen and after discussion regarding the number of individuals needed to make a colony and with data which islooked at over a substantial period being considered, Claire Hedley confirmed that lists are in the EU Directive including threatened and migratory species. Dr Scott confirmed that commercial fishing is onlyone activity taken into account and that the process of setting SPAs is complex and she reiterated what Tim Dixon had said about more information being needed and that the effect on socio-economics could be low.
Tim Dixon said the birds in question are already protected under existing SPA designations in the area and he would therefore like to think that anything causing a significant effect has already been picked up or managed through the red byelaws under Article 6 (Defra Revised Approach to Commercial Fishing in EMSs) work. He also reiterated thetimeline, that following ongoing dialogue a case would be submitted toDEFRA for public consultation by around December 2015 with a view to implementation of the SPA by December 2016 and that there would be the widest possible discussion.
The Chairman said that his gut instinct is that this matter is so important that time is needed to carefully consider the issues and thatit should be looked at by NIFCA at the Technical and Scientific SubCommittee level. The Chairman also noted that at this meeting we didnot have any commercial fishermen present.
Claire Hedley said she was worried that the Authority’s current article6 work is based on existing boundaries and when these are changed we could be required to do the article 6 work again to take account of the new boundaries/new areas. In response
Dr Scott said she thoughtthe article 6 process is flexible enough to consider changes such as to boundaries as they occur.
The Vice Chairman expressed his concern that those with expertise in this area begin their consideration by looking at data, whereas peopleactually affected will begin by asking “what does it mean to us?” (similar to Net Gain).
Mr Ritchie asked what was meant by needing “protection” in respect ofbirds – he asked what they need protecting from and felt nobody doesthem any harm, least of all fishermen and Tim Dixon agreed with that comment. Therefore, the Vice Chairman asked what the SPA will protectthe birds from and Tim Dixon explained for example in relation to Roseate Terns their numbers in the district are hugely significant and very susceptibleto disturbance and that needs to be taken account of - but in response it waswondered whether there is actually a problem which needs dealing with?
The Chairman commented that the British Government can no longer be relaxed about implementation of EU Directives.
Rachel Hepburn from the RSPB referred to members of their staff workingat Filey Bay this summer with fishermen. In the past there has been a seabirdby-catch problem and they are working on it and improving relationships. TheRSPB are also seeking funding for similar projects in Cumbria and elsewhere on the Yorkshire Coast. John Walton said there is no evidence of seabirdby-catch in Northumberland which requires the same sort of attention.
EMS Revised Approach Survey Update – John woodman asked if there wasa timetable for this. The Chief Executive said that it had not yet been possible. The Vice Chairman said he understood the difficulties in that regard. JohnWoodman said however even if it is approximate and cannot be adhered tothen at least it would give better indication of the position and the Chief Executive undertook to look into this further.
3.3 Legacy Byelaws Review
The Chief Executive referred to the paper on this and confirmed the discussion at the Watch Committee which had resolved to put to the mainmeeting that there should be no need for a further Technical and ScientificSub Committee and the Authority should proceed to an Extraordinary General Meeting in September with a view to making the new package ofByelaws before going to statutory consultation and the Chief Executivesaid he would contact members after the meeting with a suggested date for the EGM and that further details would also be supplied to members inthe meantime so that they are fully briefed.
3.4.1 and 3.4.2 – Minutes of a) The General Committee on 22nd April 2014
and b) TheExtraordinary General on 18th June 2014 –
The minutes were noted and approved as a true record with no matters arising which are not dealt with elsewhere during the meeting on 22nd July.
3.5Meetings Attended – The list of meetings was noted and there were nomatters arising.
3.6Chief Executive’s Report – The report was noted and received.
3.7Annual Report 2013/14 – The Chief Executive’s paper was noted and he confirmed that this was to keep members aware of the importance of the Annual Report and Plan and that he would report further at the next quarterly meeting.
3.8Report and Progress Of Projects including 3.8.1 SEA and Project Inshore – The Chief Executive confirmed that the Authority is about to go toconsultation on its Strategic Environmental Report and that this project continues to proceed well. Regarding Project Inshore he reported that the project is in current abeyance, but that he expected to hear further from the Project Inshore team in the not too distant future. Sarah Aftergood noted that the delay may not be unrelated to the departure to Australia of Matt Watson who has had a significant role in the project relating to IFCAs.
3.8.2Report on Projects with Newcastle University and Natural England –
The report from Professor Polunin was noted with much thanks from the Chairman.
3.9Recreational Sea Angling Strategy – The report was noted and it was confirmed there would be an update of review of the strategy in the nextquarter.
3.10Lobster Stock Project – The report was noted by the meeting the Chief Executive stressed that apart from the scientific and data benefits it is excellent that IFCO McLoughney is working so closely with members of the local fishing industry.
3.11Risk Assessment Report – This was received and noted by the meeting and the Chief Executive confirmed that he would report on this every quarter.
3.12Epitome Of Correspondence – This was noted and received by the meeting with comments as follows:-
Item 9 – the Environmental Officers explained ephemeral features to the members and the Vice chairman confirmed that smothering by sand as referred to in this item is largely man made.
Item 20 – Jill Lee said that “environment leave at the beach” may attract considerably more interest than anticipated.
Item 22 (k) The Chief Executive asked Mr Newlands if Neil Robinson could contact him regarding any knowledge which the MMO have in relation to “Energy From Under the Sea” and in respect of any Application which has been made to them regarding this.
3.13 Summary Reports of Watch and Finance Committee By Chief Executive – The reports were received and noted by the meeting. The meeting was then asked to vote upon a name for the vessel and the first name put forward, St Aidan, was voted for by a majority of the members and officers present. The Chief IFCO also confirmed that St Aidan would be registered in accordance of the requirements of the Merchant Shipping Act.
3.14IFCO Reports – These were noted and received by the members on behalf of whom the Chairman gave thanks for the reports and work of the officers and particularly to the engineer for his attention to the patrol vessel.
3.15Any Other Business:
(a)The Vice Chairman confirmed the position in respect of MMO appointees
being given the option to extend their appointments for a further 6 months
from 1st October next and about which the MMO would be writing to them.
(b)The Vice Chairman gave thanks for the Aln Estuary survey and said he thought some new equipment could be purchased for future surveys, subject to budget. The Deputy Chief IFCO (Environmental) also confirmed that a fish which had not been initially identified in the survey was a saithe.
There being no further business the Chairman closed the meeting at 3:50pm.
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