To inform members of this consultation and outline a proposed Committee response

1.1 Defra published this consultation on 2 August 2006. It proposes changes to the Sea Fisheries (Shellfish) Act 1967 which will modernise the way Fishery Orders are established and operated. The consultation letter (Annex A) outlines the objectives of the consultation, early proposals on what the changes to the act would achieve and a web site for the full consultation. The deadline for responses is 13 September 2006.

1.2 The consultation proposes that any changes finally agreed will be implemented through the proposed Marine Bill. New procedures would, therefore, not be expected to be available for use before 2009. Nevertheless, Officers are strongly supportive of these proposals to streamline and modernise the process for establishing Regulating and Several Orders because these mechanisms have the potential to be increasingly useful for managing the important shellfisheries throughout our District.