Delivering effective and equitably governed marine protected area networks in the UK: The role of Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (IFCAs)

Against a backdrop of international commitment to establish effective marine protected area networks, UK marine policy is increasingly ambitious in its scope to designate a higher quantity and quality of marine protected areas. This ambition is not without challenge and controversy in an island nation with multiple competing demands spanning shipping, tourism, energy, conservation, and fisheries. This paper highlights the significant contribution of Inshore Fisheries Conservation Authorities (IFCAs), regional bodies responsible for commercial and recreational fisheries and conservation management in England’s coastal & transitional waters, to realising an effective national nearshore network of MPAs. Equitable governance in the IFCA context could be defined as a combination of i) the remit of balancing conservation with sustainable use that inherently incorporates a central and consistent consideration of the needs and rights of local communities and ii) democratic inclusive decision-making via the IFCA authority membership providing an empowered voice and vote to local communities who have a stake in and are affected by MPA proposals in their regions. Since their inception in 2011 the IFCA raison d’etre has been to deliver an appropriate balance between marine conservation and sustainable fishing agendas. This, along with widely recognised benefits of regionality and devolved powers, places experienced IFCA staff and members in a strong position to navigate many of the challenges of developing and expanding MPA networks that are both legitimate and effective. This paper lays out the case for why the IFCA model and mode of practice is tailored to deliver effective marine protected area networks that are equitably governed with attention to sustainable use and the livelihood needs of local communities. We present evidence from across England that demonstrates IFCA-led progress in MPA management. These include the use of IFCA byelaws to appropriately manage fishing impact, balancing sustainable use with effective marine conservation including prohibition of bottom-trawling in many protected areas, a form of fishing often criticised for undermining MPA efficacy.