The Isles of Scilly Inshore Fisheries & Conservation Authority (IFCA) meeting scheduled for 15 January 2026 was set to discuss proposed amendments to fishing gear permit byelaw conditions and receive an update on various fisheries management and operational matters. The meeting's report pack included information on fishing gear permits, subsea imaging survey results, inshore vessel monitoring systems, recreational permits, sampling projects, national fisheries issues, and the authority's patrol vessel and compliance monitoring.

Revision of the Fishing Gear Permit Byelaw 2021 Permit Conditions

A significant portion of the meeting was scheduled to focus on proposed amendments to the Fishing Gear Permit Byelaw 2021 permit conditions. These amendments were drafted to address legal issues and modernise existing conditions, particularly in light of new legislation and challenges with Inshore Vessel Monitoring System (iVMS) units. Four specific amendments were put forward for consultation:

• The introduction of a condition allowing the Authority to require additional remote monitoring equipment on permitted vessels.
• A change to the listed iVMS units to include any appropriate 'type approved' unit.
• The introduction of a maximum tow bar length of three metres for dredging in the district.
• The introduction of a limited fishing time of 07:00 to 19:00 for dredging in the district.

Consultation on these proposals yielded two responses. The report indicated that amendments 1, 2, and 4 were recommended for implementation. Amendment 3, concerning the maximum tow bar length, was not recommended at this time due to potential wider difficulties and cost implications, with a suggestion to monitor dredge use and reconsider the measure later. The report noted that the proposed amendments were made in line with the Authority's powers under section 156 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009¹.

Chief Officer's Report

The Chief Officer's Report was scheduled to provide an update on a range of operational and national fisheries issues. This included:

• Fishing Gear Permit Byelaw (Permits issued): It was noted that no additional applications for permits to use bottom towed gears had been received, with only two issued since the byelaw came into force on 25th December 2025.
• 2025 Subsea Imaging Survey Results: The analysis report from a subsea imaging survey conducted in August 2025 was to be discussed. The survey aimed to identify differences between recently trawled areas and those not trawled for several years. The report indicated that while differences in fauna were noted, the results were inconclusive regarding the impact of trawling due to variations in substrate between the surveyed and control areas. Further work was deemed necessary to determine the maximum number of permits for bottom towed gears to ensure sustainability.
• Inshore Vessel Monitoring System (iVMS) Update: An ongoing issue with accessing data from a type-approved iVMS unit via the UK VMS hub was to be addressed.
• Recreational Fixed Gear Permit Byelaw: Preparations for the 2026 recreational pot tag applications were reported to be well underway.
• Sampling at Sea Project Work: Plans for a crawfish tag and release project in 2026 were outlined, to be carried out during officer sampling at sea trips. Brief reports on the 2025 officer sampling program for lobsters and crawfish were also to be presented.
• Update on National Fisheries Issues: Announcements from Defra regarding Fishery Management Plans (FMPs) were to be discussed, including the upcoming increases to minimum conservation reference sizes (MCRS) for edible crabs and lobsters from February and March 2026, respectively. The report also mentioned Defra's announcement on animal welfare reforms for decapod crustaceans and cephalopods, referencing the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022².
• Atlantic Blue Fin Tuna: An increase in the UK's Atlantic Blue Fin tuna quota for 2026 and 2027 was noted, with an expected associated increase in commercial and recreational licences.
• Pollack Update for 2026: Information on a small quota for pollack in Area VII for 2026 was to be provided, along with details of a bag limit for recreational pollack fishers.
• Patrol Vessel Update: The patrol vessel 'Vigilant' had passed its annual coding survey, and a gap analysis report for compliance with the Work Boat Code 3 was conducted.
• Compliance Monitoring Update: Officers had continued to monitor the activity of vessels to ensure compliance with the maximum vessel size in the Isles of Scilly IFCA district.
• Additional External Funding for FY 2025/26: Two allocations of RDEL funding from Defra had been received, which were expected to maintain current operational levels.
• Crawfish Hatchery Feasibility Study: Investigations into the feasibility of a crawfish hatchery on Scilly were ongoing, with efforts focused on estimating set-up costs and funding.
• Fishermen's Association Meeting With MMO: A meeting between representatives from the fishermen's association and the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) team responsible for implementing Crab and Lobster FMP measures was described as productive.

The report pack also included Appendices A and B, detailing the Isles of Scilly Catch Recording Report 2025 for European Lobster and European Spiny Lobster, respectively.