Public Notice: Sussex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority

Notice is hereby given that Sussex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority intends to apply to the Minister for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to revoke the ‘Marine Protected Areas Byelaw 2017’ and to confirm the ‘Marine Protected Areas Byelaw 2023’.

The Marine Protected Areas Byelaw 2023 retains established management measures for four Marine Protected Areas through existing Schedules 1-4, but includes the addition of a fifth Schedule, relating solely to the area designated as Beachy Head East Marine Conservation Zone. The proposed Marine Protected Areas Byelaw 2023 Schedule 5 will protect sensitive species and habitats by introducing a zonal approach to managing fishing activities within Beachy Head East Marine Conservation Zone, including exclusion of ‘towed-gear’ from part of the site.

In August 2023, the Authority invited stakeholders to participate in a statutory formal consultation on the proposed management measures within Schedule 5 of the Marine Protected Areas Byelaw. In response to this consultation, additional evidence was submitted to the Authority, resulting in an amendment to the proposed Byelaw Schedule. Notice is hereby provided that a second, formal consultation is proposed by the Sussex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority, to allow stakeholders to consider and respond to the amended management measures.

The full amended Byelaw with Schedule 5, regulatory notice, impact assessment and information on the formal consultation can be found here: https://www.sussex-ifca.gov.uk/live-consultations

Any person wishing to comment; object or approve on the confirmation of the above byelaw and the amendments to Schedule 5 (the existing Schedules 1, 2, 3 and 4 are not subject to change or consultation) must make representations in writing by Friday 19th April 2024 to:

Marine Conservation and Enforcement Team, Marine Management Organisation, Lancaster House, Hampshire Court, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE4 7YH. Email: ifcabyelaws@marinemanagement.org.uk

Also please send a copy of this representation marked ‘Byelaw Consultation’ to the Sussex IFCA, 12a Riverside Business Centre, Shoreham-by-Sea, BN43 6RE. Email: admin@sussex-ifca.gov.uk

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