Fisher Guidance

Industrial quayside on sunny day with commercial fishing boats.

At NIFCA, we view our local fishing community not just as stakeholders, but as primary partners in the sustainable management of our coast. We are here to advocate for your interests and make sure your voice is central to the future of our waters.

Dialogue & connection

Fisher Forums: your voice matters

Our Fisher Forums are informal, local meetings designed to bridge the gap between management and the quay. These sessions are about listening to what matters to you, sharing knowledge on upcoming initiatives, such as relevant notices to mariners or conservation updates, and supporting an industry where both people and nature benefit.

We aim to drop into harbours and ports across the district throughout the year to ensure we are staying connected to the issues that impact your daily work. Everyone is welcome, including family members and retired fishers. Sign up for our newsletter and keep an eye on our social media channels for upcoming forums.

Sign up to our newsletter

Group of fishers and NIFCA representatives sat round table.

Safeguarding marine stock

Byelaws & compliance support

Compliance is the foundation of a fair and sustainable fishery. We provide clear, accessible guidance on local byelaws to help both commercial and recreational fishers operate with confidence.

Our team is committed to helping you understand the regulations so that the rules are applied consistently to protect the livelihoods of law-abiding fishers and the health of Northumberland’s marine stocks.

Compliance & Enforcement

Stunning pink sky in Northumberland with silhouette of fisherman at sea.

Operational safety & tools

Kingfisher Information Service

We recognise that commercial fishers often face significant practical difficulties in finding, interpreting, and plotting complex regulations from multiple sources. As your local regulator, NIFCA is committed to helping you access this vital information quickly and easily.

We strongly support the Kingfisher Bulletin, which provides a consolidated, gear-focused view of all current commercial fishing restrictions in UK waters.

This service provides:

  • The ability to download restricted area data directly onto a wide range of different plotter manufacturers.
  • A clear view of legally enforceable (legislative) commercial fishing restrictions.
  • All restrictions are categorised by gear type (using FAO nomenclature), so you only see what is relevant to your gear.
  • Data can be queried on an interactive map, downloaded for offline use, or uploaded directly to your vessel’s plotter.
  • The service is currently undergoing a national update to ensure all new fishing restrictions are included.

Please note: This service is specifically designed for commercial gear and spatial restrictions. It does not include species-specific data (like minimum sizes), catch limitations, or recreational-only restrictions.

Access Kingfisher Restrictions

Fisherman with pot retrieved from water looking out at sea from side of boat.

Filter by category

Byelaws

Code of Conduct

Fishers Guidance

Notice to Mariners

Notice to Mariners

22 items

Last updated: 23.02.2026