2026 marks 15 years of IFCAs. To celebrate this milestone, we’ll be sharing stories that highlight the impact, progress and achievements of IFCAs over the past decade and a half.
Story 8: Using Drone Technology to Strengthen Fisheries Science and Enforcement
Across England, IFCAs are increasingly utilising drone technology to support both fisheries science and enforcement, helping to improve how inshore waters are monitored and managed.
Drones are remotely operated aircraft used by trained pilots on the ground. Equipped with high-specification cameras, thermal imaging, zoom and wide-angle lenses, laser rangefinders and GPS capability, they provide a powerful new perspective on inshore fisheries.
For IFCA enforcement teams, drones offer a rapid and flexible response tool in often fast-moving coastal environments. They can help monitor, record and evidence suspected illegal activity that might otherwise go undetected, while also supporting routine patrols and compliance checks across large and sometimes inaccessible areas.
Drones are also playing an increasingly important role in science and monitoring. IFCAs are using them to carry out site surveys and monitor Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and other environmentally sensitive locations. This aerial capability allows officers to collect high-quality imagery and data, improving understanding of habitat condition and fishing activity patterns to inform management decisions.
For example, North Western IFCA is using drones to collect multi-spectral images of mussel beds in their district to measure extent, biomass and mussel life-stage. Utilising this technology combats limitations to common survey techniques conducted from the boat, quadbikes or walking, such as tide restrictions and labour intensity. Utilising this technology is helping to improve efficiency and accuracy of data.
With trained and certified drone pilots within IFCA teams, this technology is helping officers work more efficiently and enabling access to remote areas. Drone technology is becoming an important part of the wider toolkit supporting evidence-based fisheries management and marine protection.
You can find out more about individual IFCA drone programmes on their websites, including North Western, Southern and Sussex IFCA.