Tony Delahunty

Bringing Knowledge and Expertise in: Commercial fishing (Selsey)

Tony began his career in fishing in 1975 as a crew member, three years later Tony bought his own fishing vessel and has been in the fishing industry ever since. Tony is now the proud owner of a 32 foot Kingfisher 33 the F.V. Robert Louise which he works full time with the assistance of his son Peter and a second crew member.

Tony has specialised in static gear practices but is very diverse in his methods and target species depending upon the time of the year, catch rates and market prices. Tony fishes for; lobster, brown crab, whelks and prawns using a variety of different pots and bait, and for bass, cod, sole, plaice and skates using a variety of net types and techniques.

Tony has been a DEFRA appointee on the Sussex Sea Fisheries Committee since 1995 and represents the Committee on the Chichester Harbour Advisory Committee and on the Medmerry Managed Realignment Scheme (an Environment Agency project). Tony is also a member of the Selsey Fishermen's Association.

Since 1978 Tony has been a committed voluntary member of the RNLI at Selsey; serving as a Senior Helmsman of the Inshore Lifeboat and Deputy second coxswain of the All Weather Lifeboat for 29 years, he now holds the position of Deputy Launch Authority. During his lifeboat career Tony has received a number of awards, these include; the Silk Cut Award for Bravery, the Ralph Glister Award for Meritorious Rescue, the Freedom of the City of London for his long service to the RNLI and an RNLI long service badge.

Position: Fisheries Technical Specialist, Environment Agency

I'm the Environment Agency's Fisheries Technical Specialist and their representative on the Sussex IFCA. I've worked for the Agency in Sussex for 10 years and see our key aims as:

To enhance the rivers, wetlands and coast of Sussex and the South East. Focus on delivering our flood risk priorities and the Water Framework Directive local measures to create sustainable ecologically functioning habitat.

To carry out this work within our Sussex communities.

To protect key river, wetland and coastal habitats by giving intelligent advice to Flood and Coastal Risk Management, Environmental Planning, other key partners and Community organisations.

To work with partners to achieve self-sustaining fish populations, responsible angling and sustainable commercial fishing.

To encourage rod licence sales and carry out targeted, intelligent enforcement.

Position: District Marine Officer, Marine Management Organisation

I am the District Marine Officer for the MMO Southeast District, which spans from Gravesend to Lyme Regis and incorporates three IFCA’s. As such I am responsible for the duties MMO carries out at sea and on the coast within the District. I have worked in the Southeast for some 17 years, from initially staring as a Fishery Officer with MAFF.

Position: Marine Senior Adviser, Eastern English Channel Team, Natural England

I’m the senior technical specialist within Natural England’s Eastern English Channel team, which spans from Chichester Harbour, Sussex to the Deben Estuary, Suffolk. I have worked for Natural England for 10years both locally and as a national fisheries specialist. Natural England is the government’s nature conservation adviser and can bring to the IFCA technical advice on how to achieve its new conservation duties. Through my experience of working with Natural England I bring a depth of knowledge regarding marine conservation and fisheries and how these interact.

Bringing Knowledge and Expertise in: Recreational Sea Angling (Hastings)

I started sea angling in 1960 when I joined the East Hastings Sea Angling Association. Every fine weekend I would travel with my dad from Finchley (North London) to Hastings, a round trip of some 160 miles, to see if we could get afloat. Now, some 50 years later, my enthusiasm for the sport is undiminished. I’m still with the EHSAA where I’m currently the Commodore having also acted as vice-chairman and chairman (17 years). Since 1972 I have also been the club’s fish recorder and have always been interested in the changing trends of species landed and numbers/sizes of specimens landed. I have numerous friends in the local inshore fishing fleet and have joined them in trawling, trammel and gill netting including fishing for herring and sprats plus some potting in Scotland which has given me some insight into commercial fishing

In more recent times I have become interested in coaching the next generation of anglers and have completed my UKCC Level 1 certificate in coaching angling. Over the last 50 years I have become acutely aware of the decline in fish numbers and species available for anglers and worry as to whether there will be fish for the new generation I’m trying to encourage to catch. This is my main driver behind applying to join the IFCA as I believe the new legislation provides an unparalleled opportunity to ensure sustainable fish stocks for both anglers and commercial interests alike in the future.

Bringing Knowledge and Expertise in: European Fisheries Funding & Commercial Fishing (Newhaven)

I currently work with European Fisheries Funding (EFF) that assists industry through change with the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) covering the South East area from Weymouth to King Lynn. In addition, I am secretary to the Newhaven Fish & Flake Ice Society Ltd that provides facilities & supports fishermen in Newhaven.

I fished commercially for most of my working life and worked on fishing vessels up to 24 metres; as skipper for 12 years of the fishing vessel MFV Seaflake NN 215. I fished with many methods from many different EU ports and gained a good understanding of how other EU countries work with industry and an extensive knowledge of different marine habitats.

I remain active in the fishing industry although no longer commercially fish but do occasionally recreationally fish from the shore. I also take a keen interest in renewable energy.

Bringing Knowledge and Expertise in: Recreational Angling (Bexhill-on-Sea)

I am an owner of a fishing tackle shop in Bexhill-on-Sea, and am also on the committee of Bexhill Sea Angling Club. I have been an angler for most of my life, and recently completed my level 1 angling coach course.

I work closely with fishing and bait-digging on the local Bexhill-on-Sea shoreline, giving me first-hand knowledge as to what is happening in my coastal area, and my close association with numerous anglers and commercial fishermen provides feedback on any particular issues.

I am interested in understanding nursery and breeding areas as I believe that improved protection will ensure longevity and sustainability of local fish stocks, along with the promotion of better conservation practices for both recreational and commercial fishermen alike.

Bringing Knowledge and Expertise in: Commercial Fishing, Fish Processing and Trading Industry

I have 40 years experience in the fishing, fish processing and fish trading industries. I started as a fleet manager with British United Trawlers, one of the largest fishing vessel owners in Europe and part of Associated Fisheries plc. (AF). After that, I gained 7 years’ experience as a director of an international seafood trading company before returning to AF as a managing director / director of several of their seafood industry companies.

In 1993 I was appointed managing director of North Atlantic (Holdings) ltd, which owns and operates pelagic freezer trawlers. I am also involved in managing overseas investments in an inshore shrimp trawler fleet in Nigeria and a seafood processing factory in China.

I am a director of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations (NFFO) and Chairman of North Atlantic Fish Producers Association. I am also a director of the Pelagic Freezer-trawler Association (PFA).

I have a strong interest in ensuring a viable and fair future for England’s inshore and offshore fishing fleets within a correctly managed marine environment. I hold a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Northampton, am married with 2 grown children, and my leisure interests include rugby, golf and sailing (out of Shoreham).

Bringing Knowledge and Expertise in: Fisheries Management and Biodiversity Conservation

I wish to be involved in the integration of Fisheries with Biodiversity Conservation and bring the knowledge and experience gained through my research to an applied policy and decisions context.

My work has included research on marine resource governance, particularly on managing conflicts in integrated fisheries and biodiversity conservation.

I am interested in ensuring the effective conservation, including restoration, of fish stocks and biodiversity, including the marine ecosystems that support both.

I’m looking for a sustainable and profitable inshore fishing industry, particularly through the provision of sufficient quota and management measures, and the general protection of the fisheries and ecosystems of Sussex from incoming rogue fishermen.

Bringing Knowledge and Expertise in: Coastal Zone Management

I am a former head of the DEFRA Marine Environment Division’s Science Unit. I am also a member of the UK Environmental Law Association www.ukela.org as well as a council member for the Society of Radiological Protection www.srp-uk.org. My main work is providing a peer review service that is science-based for a wide range of users including industry, local communities and government funded organisations. This might include resolving conflicts of interest, designing appropriate monitoring programmes and assessment of the significance of the information. Currently i am the Chief Consultant for Corporate Risk Associates Ltd

As a member of the Sussex IFCA, I hope to help provide advice on such issues as coastal zone management, best practice for the utilisation of marine aggregates, sustainable approaches to enhancing biodiversity and minimisation of pollution.

Bringing Knowledge and Expertise in: Commercial Fishing & Fish Marketing (Shoreham-by-Sea)

I started fishing back in 1953 when I was taken herring drifting. By 1957 I’d obtained a second-hand trammel net, and started selling fish. In 1966, after a gruelling underwater seabed survey, I won the school Biology prize and a scholarship to Southampton University. During my gap year I worked on a trawler out of Newhaven, and after my studies I started fishing full-time for lobsters and crabs. By 1976 I had expanded to exporting spider crabs, and the same year I joined Sussex Sea Fisheries District Committee and the White Fish Authority Research and Development Committee.

After relocating my company to Shoreham’s Fisherman’s Wharf and building new tanks to accommodate the shellfish, I started to export internationally running from North West Ireland to Setabul in Portugal. I enjoyed a stint as commodore at Sussex Yacht Club, and in 1990 I became the Honourable Secretary of Shoreham Harbour Lifeboat.

In 2005-2006 I made 3 trips to the Tamil areas of East and North East Sri Lanka to help rebuild the fishing industry after the Boxing Day Tsunami.

In 2011 I joined Sussex Inshore Fishing and Conservation Authority, and my latest project is the introduction of ring-netting to the waters of Sussex.

Bringing Knowledge and Expertise in: Commercial Fishing & Vessel Management

I am a commercial static gear fisherman and owner of 4 fishing vessels from Eastbourne. I first became interested in fishing as a childhood hobby. Following school I enrolled in an apprenticeship as a draftsman and bought a small fishing boat to go sea fishing with in my spare time. At the age of 21 I turned to fishing as a full time career and invested in a larger fishing vessel, an IP27 called the ‘Pioneer’ which I worked from Eastbourne beach fishing station. In 1989 I upgraded my fishing vessel to a catamaran called the ‘Vergoyer’, it was the first commercial fishing catamaran Eastbourne had seen; today there are 8 in the fleet. My fishing business thrived and I continued to invest money into the industry. Today, I own three fishing vessels; F.V. Havanah, and F.V. Clar Innis which conduct static netting operations, the F.V. Meridian which mostly engages in whelk potting with a little static netting. My son is now set to follow in my footsteps, an already experienced crew member upon my fishing vessels, he is now the proud owner and skipper of a new multipurpose Sutton workboat the F.V. Anderida.

I have now been involved in the fishing industry for over 20 years, in that time I have seen Eastbourne change from a beach launched fishing fleet to the facilities of a large marina development. I am a member of the Eastbourne Fisherman’s Society and I have established connections with Danish fishing gear producers who meet my specific requirements for net type, both supply and maintenance. I joined the Sussex Sea Fisheries District Committee in 2009 and subsequently the Inshore Fishers and Conservation Authority in 2011.

Bringing Knowledge and Expertise in: Underwater Archaeology

I have always had a strong interest in the sea starting at an early age fishing for mackerel and bass whilst on holiday. My interest spread to boating and sailing, and then at university I learnt to dive. In those days scuba diving was relatively new and so was underwater archaeology. I became an underwater archaeologist over a period of fifteen years, surveying submerged Roman and Punic harbours and wrecks along the Algerian, Tunisian and Libyan coasts.

In 1987 I became chairman of the Nautical Archaeology Society and then for the last 16 years I have been chairman of the Joint Nautical Archaeology Policy Committee. The aim of the JNAPC is to seek better protection for our underwater cultural heritage, such as historic wrecks and submerged prehistoric land surfaces, around the coast of the UK.

The organisation has achieved much by working with Government Departments, diving organisations and commercial developers. More details are available on the website www.jnapc.org.uk . My day job has been as Finance Director of a private property company for 25 years and as a Management Consultant advising on the financial affairs of small and medium size companies. I have an MA in Engineering and a Masters Degree in Business Administration.