The Cornwall Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA) meeting on 14 June 2024 covered several key topics, including budget monitoring, the annual plan for 2024-25, updates from the Byelaw Working Group, and the officers' report. Decisions were made on the budget and reserves position, the annual plan, and the launch of an informal consultation on measures to protect marine conservation zones.

Budget Monitoring Report April 2023 - January 2024

The Cornwall IFCA Chief Officer presented the Budget Monitoring Report April 2023 – January 2024. The report was noted without questions from members. The budget and reserves position for the 2023/24 financial year, detailed in Appendices 1 and 2, was approved.

Excerpts from 2024-25 Annual Plan

The Senior Policy and Admin Officer presented the Excerpts from 2024-25 Annual Plan. Key points included the need for further data to progress the Net Management Review and the international assessment of tuna stocks. Discussions with the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) on data sharing were also highlighted. The proposed focus and priorities section and work plan for the forthcoming year were approved as the basis for the 2024-25 Annual Plan.

Update from Byelaw Working Group (15 February 2024)

The Cornwall IFCA Chief Officer presented the Update from Byelaw Working Group. The necessity of creating byelaws to comply with the government's Environmental Improvement Plan was discussed. Members supported the launch of an informal consultation on measures to prohibit the removal of crawfish from the Manacles Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) and the Padstow Bay and Surrounds MCZ.

Cornwall IFCA Officers' Report

The Cornwall IFCA Chief Officer, Principal Scientific Officer, and Principal Enforcement Officer presented the Cornwall IFCA Officers' Report. Key points included the ambitious national Fisheries Management Plan (FMP) work programme, regional crawfish management discussions, and consultations with other South West IFCAs and fishing organisations about pollack stocks. The high number of sardine strandings around Cornwall and North Devon was noted as a natural occurrence under investigation by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS). The patrol vessel 'Saint Piran' was undergoing a refit, and the use of pingers on smaller vessels was discussed, with trials being conducted at Mevagissey as part of a DEFRA project.