As chief officer of the Northumberland Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority, he will outline the role of the organisation in the management of fisheries and how this is balanced against the social and economic benefits of sea fishing with the need to protect the marine environment. He will also explain how this dates to 1890 when its predecessor organisation, the Northumberland Sea Fisheries Committee was established and what changes have taken place over that time.
The district covered extends from the centre of the River Tyne to the Scottish border, out to six nautical miles at sea.
As part of its work, the authority regularly holds local meetings, called Fisher Forums, to find out what’s important to fishers and to share knowledge and information about fisheries management and conservation initiatives.
The authority, one of ten across the country, also conducts research into fisheries to help with its decision making. A dedicated team collects evidence in a variety of ways including desk-based studies, fishing catch data analysis and partnership work.
