The Isles of Scilly Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA) scheduled a meeting for 24 June 2025 to discuss several key items, including the annual plan, budget, and a review of the IFCA's constitution. The meeting also included discussion of revisions to fishing gear permit conditions and a policy for issuing permits.

Here's a breakdown of the topics that were scheduled to be discussed:

Annual Plan 2025-2026

The Isles of Scilly IFCA was expected to discuss and approve its annual plan for 2025-2026. The plan outlines the aims and objectives for the coming year, including specific workstreams and how the authority intends to meet its high-level objectives. According to the agenda item for the Annual Plan 2025-26, the plan includes:

• Consolidating processes and work streams after an operationally difficult year in 2024/25.
• Objectives for five research priorities, including the expansion of some projects and a new research priority investigating a new fishery for the district.
• Maintaining and strengthening existing partnerships, and developing new ones where appropriate.
• Continuing work on marine protected areas (MPAs), with the goal of completing outstanding fishery activity/MPA feature assessments by the end of quarter four.
• Increased compliance monitoring and enforcement tasking, particularly related to the Fishing Gear Permit Byelaw 2021 and the use of inshore vessel monitoring system (iVMS).

The report pack stated that the total revenue budget for the year had been set at £210,887, with the majority of the increase on the previous year coming from the utilisation of DEFRA RDEL funding¹.

Review of Fishing Gear Permit Byelaw 2021 Permit Conditions

The Isles of Scilly IFCA was expected to consider revisions to the permit conditions for the Fishing Gear Permit Byelaw 2021. According to the agenda, the proposed amendments include:

• Changes to the interpretations of specified equipment.
• Adding the ability to require remote monitoring equipment, such as cameras or electronic tags.
• Setting a maximum bar length of three meters when using scallop dredges.
• Setting a temporal restriction of only permitting dredging between 07:00 and 19:00 daily.

The report pack stated that the aim of these amendments was to future-proof the byelaw permit conditions and improve the management of bottom towed fishing gears in the district.

Policy for Issuing Permits

The Isles of Scilly IFCA was expected to consider a policy for issuing permits under the Fishing Gear Permit Byelaw 2021 and set a maximum number of permits for the year 2025/26. The policy outlines a procedure for limiting the number of permits issued to use bottom towed gears. The report pack stated that any limitation on the number of permits must be based on the interpretation and application of information around the impact of bottom towed gears.

Budget Monitor

The Isles of Scilly IFCA was scheduled to note the budget forecast for the financial year 2025-2026. According to the Budget Monitor report, the gross revenue budget has been set at £210,887 for the financial year. The report pack also noted that the council was grateful to Defra for the annual New Burdens grant of £109,723, without which the Authority would struggle to operate.

Review of the Isles of Scilly IFCA Constitution

The Isles of Scilly IFCA was expected to consider and adopt the Isles of Scilly IFCA Constitution Version 3. According to the Review of the Isles of Scilly IFCA Constitution report, the constitution sets out how the authority will operate, how its decisions will be made, and the procedures it will follow to ensure efficient, transparent, and accountable decision-making. The report pack stated that there were no suggested amendments to the constitution at the time of writing.

'Measuring a Balance' Project Update

The Isles of Scilly IFCA was scheduled to receive a verbal update from Simon Pengelly from the Association of IFCAs on the 'Measuring a Balance' project. According to the Measuring a Balance Update report, the project has now concluded. The Appendix A Pilot Project Measuring a Balance document provides background information on the project, which aimed to identify priorities and parameters for balancing social, economic, and environmental considerations in decision-making.

Natural England Officer Update

The Isles of Scilly IFCA was scheduled to receive an update from Jules Webber, Higher Officer - Marine, Natural England. According to the NE Officer Report, the update would cover recent developments from Natural England, including Natural England's Strategic Direction 2025–2030, survey and monitoring projects, MPA condition monitoring, and the MPA Network Review.

Chief Officer's Report

The Isles of Scilly IFCA was scheduled to note the Chief Officer's Report. According to the Chief Officer's Report, the report would cover a range of topics, including:

• The issuing of permits under the Fishing Gear Permit Byelaw 2021.
• Recreational pot tags.
• The Plymouth University trawl study survey work.
• The Exeter University PhD work using BRUVs.
• The recruitment of a Fisheries Research Assistant.
• The return of Vigilant to Scilly.
• The storage container at the old school site at Carn Thomas.
• Fishing activity.
• Octopus bycatch.
• Pollack bycatch only arrangements.
• Commercial tuna licences.