On the 1st of July 2026, the Association of IFCAs (AIFCA) and IFCAs across the country came together for a ‘national day’ to mark the 15-year anniversary since the inception of IFCAs in 2011. The event was also held to recognise the value and specific needs of England’s inshore fleet and celebrate successes within the sector around our coast.
With over 100 delegates in attendance, the celebration took place at Alnwick Castle in Northumberland. The event was hosted by the Duke of Northumberland, and co-organised by the Association of IFCAs, the Centre for Rural Economy at Newcastle University and the Inshore and Small-Scale Fisheries (ISSF) Consortium.
As well as attendance from IFCAs, delegates included fishermen from around the UK, senior government officials, industry representatives, academics, and many more who work in and for fisheries.
Image: Fishermen who attended the event.
The day was officially opened by His Grace the Duke of Northumberland, who spoke about the importance of England’s inshore fisheries to the economy and culture of coastal communities, with words also from Alison Hume, the MP for Scarborough and Whitby and a recorded speech from the Fisheries Minister, Stephen Morgan.
Image: Opening speech by His Grace the Duke of Northumberland.
The 15 year anniversary of IFCAs was marked by talks detailing the work of the IFCAs to manage inshore fisheries in England. Robert Clark, Chief Officer of the AIFCA, spoke about the history of the IFCAs, successes of IFCAs around the country over the last decade and a half and progress made in management of inshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). This was then followed by a talk by Alex Aitken, Lead Environmental Officer of Northumberland IFCA, who described the fisheries of Northumberland and the management of their inshore seas.
Image: Rob Clark, Chief Officer of the Association of IFCAs, presenting on the work of the IFCAs.
The realities of fishing lives and challenges faced were brought to the audience through poetry from Adrian Bartlett (PFSA) and Women in Fisheries ambassador Ashley Mullinger, who also premiered her new film ‘Freedom’ at the event. Other talks of the day included Sarah Coulthard (Newcastle University) and Simon Bywater (Renaissance of the East Anglia Fisheries (REAF)), who discussed the evidence base regarding the nature of decline in inshore fisheries and the work of the Inshore and Small-Scale Fisheries (ISSF) Consortium over the last two years to bring fishermen together with regulators and policy makers to address the causes. A fishermen’s panel and Q&A session was also chaired by Emily Bulled of the AIFCA, to share fishermen’s perspectives on what fishing means to them and what success in inshore fisheries looks like.
Image: Fishermen roundtable session, chaired by Emily Bulled from the Association of IFCAs.
Also on the agenda was a talk from Michael Johnson from the Marine Management Organisation on the new Fisheries and Coastal Growth Fund and a roundtable discussion with Adrian Bartlett (Plymouth Fishing & Seafood Association (PFSA)), Caroline Bennett (Sole of Discretion) and Anna Patel (Fishing into the Future & PFSA) about their work in Plymouth to bring seafood into local schools and campaigns to keep Plymouth’s fleet afloat. Talks were also heard from Bally Philp (Scottish Creel Fishermen’s Federation) about fishermen’s collaboration with the Scottish Entanglement Alliance to mitigate the risks of whale entanglement in creel rope; Joe Redfern on the work of the Whitby Lobster Hatchery; Carol Elliott and Dean Lawrence and Peter Dade on the Fishermen’s Mission work on mental health and outreach campaigns; and a presentation from Lewis Tattersall from the Marine Stewardship Council on inshore fisheries.
Tour of Northumbrian fishing villages
On the 30th June, the evening before the celebration, the Northumberland IFCA (NIFCA) hosted a tour of the Northumbrian fishing villages. The tour visiting Boulmer, Beadnell, Craster and Seahouses was led by Chief Officer of NIFCA, Mark Southerton. This was attended by 44 delegates who heard directly from Mark about the work of the IFCA, and local fishermen about the decline in fishing boats, particularly driven in these areas by lack of availability of crew and new entrants to a fishing career.
Image: Mark Southerton from Northumberland IFCA leading tour of Northumberland fishing villages.
Rob Clark, Chief Officer of the Association of IFCAs, said: “Fifteen years on from the creation of IFCAs, this event was a powerful reminder of why local, place-based fisheries management matters. Around the coast, IFCAs work every day with fishers, communities and partners to support sustainable inshore fisheries and protect our marine environment. Bringing people together at Alnwick Castle allowed us not only to celebrate what has been achieved, but to listen carefully to the challenges facing small-scale fishers and to renew our commitment to working with them for the future.”
Tony Tomlinson MBE, Chair of the Association of IFCAs, said: “This was a fitting celebration of 15 years of IFCAs and of the people who make inshore fisheries such an important part of our coastal communities. The day showed the strength of partnership between fishers, regulators, scientists, government and community organisations. We are grateful to His Grace the Duke of Northumberland for hosting the event, and to all those who contributed to such an important national conversation about the future of inshore and small-scale fisheries.”
Image: The event captured by illustrator, Caroline Chapple.
The Association of IFCAs is grateful to His Grace the Duke of Northumberland for hosting the National Day and to Fishmongers’ Company and Newcastle University for funding fishermen expenses to enable their attendance. The AIFCA also gives thanks to all the IFCA members and officers who travelled across the country to attend the event.