The Isles of Scilly Inshore Fisheries & Conservation Authority (IFCA) met on Thursday 10 September 2026 to discuss its annual report, the analysis of responses to a shellfish byelaw questionnaire, and a report from the Chief Fisheries Officer. The meeting was scheduled to consider recommendations for moving forward with a shellfish byelaw and to approve the annual report for the 2024-2025 financial year.

Annual Report 2024-2025

The meeting was scheduled to consider the Annual Report for the financial year 2024-2025. This report is a statutory requirement under Section 178(1) of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. The report details the activities of the Isles of Scilly IFCA during a challenging year, which included a period without a Chief Officer and significant issues with the Authority's patrol vessel, the Vigilant. Despite these operational difficulties, the report highlights the completion of research priorities, the review and updating of operational processes, and the confirmation of the Fishing Gear Permit Byelaw 2021. The report recommended that members approve the Annual Report for submission to the Secretary of State.

Shellfish Byelaw Questionnaire Response Analysis

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing the analysis of responses to a questionnaire regarding a potential shellfish byelaw. Fishing for shellfish is a vital activity for the local commercial fleet, with landings of lobsters, edible crabs, and crawfish valued at £784,711 in 2025. The report noted the unique challenges faced by fishers in the Isles of Scilly due to their remoteness. The questionnaire, which sought to understand local fleet perspectives on effort limitation, received an exceptionally high response rate of 75%. The analysis indicated strong support for a shellfish permit byelaw, with over 93% of respondents believing it would be beneficial. There was also considerable agreement on the need for effort management, with 87.5% in favour. The report recommended approving the progression to a wider informal consultation stage for this byelaw.

Chief Officer's Report

The Chief Officer's report provided an update on various operational activities and ongoing projects. This included information on permit applications under the Fishing Gear Permit Byelaw 2021, the continued uptake of recreational potting tags, and at-sea patrols monitoring compliance with the Recreational Fixed Gear Permit Byelaw. The report also detailed progress on ensuring the patrol vessel Vigilant complies with the Work Boat Code 3, including the installation of a wireless headset communication system to mitigate ambient noise. Updates were provided on the crawfish tagging study, with a significant increase in tagged individuals and two recaptures reported. The report also touched upon the diminishing octopus catches observed during the summer and their potential impact on crawfish fisheries. Furthermore, the report mentioned ongoing engagement with South West Water regarding wastewater treatment plans on St Mary's, noting that the proposed outfall site is within the Peninnis to Dry Ledge Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) and the Isles of Scilly Complex Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Finally, the report indicated that due to the busy summer season, progress on the potential crawfish hatchery project had been limited, with more time to be allocated in the coming quarters.