Coastal Health Programme Support Services

The Association of Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (AIFCA) is contracted to provide support services for the Coastal Health programme. Key responsibilities include: (1) reviewing and testing protocols and tools with all Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (IFCAs) to strengthen preparedness, response, and intelligence gathering, including participation in scenario testing exercises and training delivery; (2) creating stakeholder maps for each IFCA district documenting key local and regional fisheries and environmental contacts, building on the Coastal Partnerships Network; (3) providing senior representation at Coastal and Marine Health programme board meetings every two months and attending related meetings such as CHEPARD; (4) facilitating at least three planned engagement sessions with local IFCAs and industry stakeholders to discuss Coastal Health research on cockle and mussel mortalities, present baseline studies, and pilot a 'Changing Seas' study to understand community perspectives on changing species distribution. Additional ad hoc engagement sessions may be organized in response to adverse coastal health events. The work involves coordinating across multiple organizations, developing shared resources, organizing workshops, conducting surveys and interviews, and producing regular progress reports.