Consultation 4 - reviewing the wording and detail of the management plan in the new Regulating Order

This consultation will focus primarily on reviewing the wording and detail of the management plan in the new Regulating Order. As Consultation 4 is focused on the detail of the management plan rather than political or policy decisions, the evidence KEIFCA needs to review will be written and detailed, and so there are no plans to run an oral evidence sessions. As always if stakeholders have questions about the consultation they are more than welcome to speak to the Chief Fishery Officer or the Assistant Chief Fishery Officer.

It is proposed that KEIFCA holds an Authority meeting on 14 July 2023 to review the feedback from Consultation 4 and then agree any detailed changes to the management plan. The agreed management plan would then be passed to DEFRA for a final review before the statutory consultation phase begins in the autumn of 2023. It must however be remembered that it is DEFRA that will draft the legal wording of the Regulating Order, not KEIFCA.

Finally it must be stressed that Consultation 4 is not a re-run of previous consultations as the Authority has already made these decisions. Consultation 4 is to review and agree the detailed wording in the management plan and although any feedback replaying previous arguments will be included in the consultation feedback for Members, it will not be analysed or summarised by officers.

Consultation 4 is now ended.

It ran from 31 March 2023 to 26 May 2023

Two hundred and four questionnaires were emailed or posted out to stakeholders.

From these ten responses were received that can be seen below

Members of Kent & Essex IFCA will be meeting at Chelmsford Council offices on 14 July to discuss and vote on  Consultation 4

Members of the public are welcome to attend the public part of the meeting which is likely to begin at midday (although times might vary). Should anyone wish to speak on an agenda item please let the office know either by phone (01843 585310) or email at info@kentandessex-ifca.gov.uk You will have 2 minutes to speak on each agenda item.

The agenda for this meeting and reports can be found below.