These voluntary roles require candidates who can take a balanced approach to caring for our seas, assessing the priority and importance of all users and stakeholders. It is essential that candidates have a good local knowledge of the IFCA area for which they are applying. The members of the IFCA contribute their knowledge and experience to provide sustainable management of their IFCA district.
The MMO are also accepting applications from both current and former IFCA general members who are nearing the end of their ten-year term as well as those members who have left having already served a ten-year term. Applications from these members will be considered alongside all other applicants in a fair an open competitive process and appointed on merit to ensure a fair balance of sector representation.
The role of an IFCA General Member
The members of the IFCA contribute their knowledge and experience to provide sustainable management of the inshore marine area of their IFCA district. Appointees to IFCAs are legally required to consider all the local fishing and marine conservation interests in the waters of the IFCA district in a balanced way, taking full account of the needs of the IFCA district. Appointees should recognise that they are part of a committee and should not regard themselves as representing solely one area of particular interest within the IFCA district.
As an IFCA General Member you will have the opportunity to contribute your knowledge and experience to committee meetings helping to shape and direct the work of the IFCA.
This membership puts local people in the driving seat of fisheries management and is an exciting opportunity to shape the development of inshore fisheries in your region.
As a member of an IFCA committee you will work in a team with others, helping to ensure that:
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the use of sea fisheries resources is carried out in a sustainable way and is balanced with the need to protect the marine environment or promote its recovery from, the effects of exploitation
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the different needs of those engaged in the exploitation of sea fisheries and marine resources are balanced
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the conservation objectives of marine conservation zones are achieved
Although these appointments are unpaid some local authorities pay expenses and allowances.
We seek to achieve a balanced membership across various interest groups, including but not limited to those with commercial, recreational, and environmental interests. To assist in maintaining this balance the MMO seek to appoint the following.
North Eastern IFCA
Welcomes applications from all sectors with a good knowledge of the local IFCA area. We particularly welcome active commercial fishermen, especially from the Redcar and Hartlepool area as well as those fishermen who have experience outside of shellfisheries as this knowledge is currently limited on the IFCA. Similarly, those representing recreational fishing will be welcomed.
Kent & Essex IFCA
Welcome applications from anyone with a willingness to engage with the IFCA in their work in undertaking the management of fisheries within their district. We particularly encourage applications from the recreational sector and active commercial fishermen with knowledge in static gear whose knowledge is currently limited on the IFCA.
To apply please complete and submit an application form no later than 8 August 2023. Applications forms should be emailed to
