All 10 IFCAs seek new recruits
14th January 2022
The MMO is advertising a number of current and upcoming general member vacancies in the 10 regional IFCAs across England. It is seeking to appoint to fill current vacancies, and also to create a reserve list for upcoming vacancies.
The MMO writes: “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 MMO is also accepting applications from current and former IFCA general members who are nearing the end of their 10-year term, as well as members who have left having already served a 10-year term. “Applications from these members will be considered alongside all other applicants in a fair and open competitive process, and appointed on merit to ensure a fair balance of sector representation,” says the MMO.
It adds: “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.
“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:
- 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
- The different needs of those engaged in the exploitation of sea fisheries and marine resources are balanced
- The conservation objectives of marine conservation zones are achieved.”
Although these appointments are unpaid, some local authorities pay expenses and allowances.
Applications are invited for all 10 IFCAs. Cornwall IFCA, Eastern IFCA, Kent & Essex IFCA, Southern IFCA and Sussex IFCA note in their advertisements that they are specifically looking for applicants from the commercial fishing sector.
You can find out more and submit an application here. The closing date for applications is 24 January.
This story was taken from the latest issue of Fishing News. For more up-to-date and in-depth reports on the UK and Irish commercial fishing sector, subscribe to Fishing News here or buy the latest single issue for just £3.30 here.
