SACN attended last week's Fisheries Action Group of the Thames Estuary Partnership, which took place at Leigh-on-Sea in Essex.

The main business was a meeting with consultants working for DEFRA who were seeking views and infromation regarding practical aspects of the forthcoming Marine Bill.

Particularly regarding the creation of Marine Protected Areas, and implementation of on-the-spot fines for fisheries offences.

(Note: SACN has previously responded to the DEFRA consultation on Administrative Penalties for fisheries offences)

As these issues will particularly impact on local commercial fishermen, efforts had been made to get a number along to take part in the debates, and to seek their views, to which SACN added the viewpoint of anglers.