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2021-06-30-accounts

Company Registration No: 7294489 Charity Registration No: 1137772

TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2021

Bite-BackShark&MarineConservation

For the year ended 30 June 2021

Contents Page No
Description
Legal and Administrative Information 3
Trustees’ Report 5-8
Independent Examiner’s Report 9
Statement of Financial Activities 10
Balance Sheet 11
Notes to the Financial Statements 12-14

Page 2 of 13

Bite-Back Shark&MarineConservation

For the year ended 30 June 2021

Legal and Administrative Information

Patron Steve Backshall MBE
Trustees Tim Barkey
Tim Ecott
Neil Stephen
Campaign director Graham Buckingham
Registered office First Floor
40 Piper Road
Kingston upon Thames
Surrey
KT1 3EX
Bankers Cooperative Bank
Solicitors PWT Advice
60 Cannon Street
London
EC4N 6NP
Independent Examiner Catherine Green
22 Cintra Park
Crystal Palace
London
SE19 2LH

Page 4 of 13

Bite-Back Shark&MarineConservation

For the year ended 30 June 2021

Bite-Back Shark & Marine Conservation

Trustees’ Annual Report

For the year ended 30 June 2021

Structure, Governance and Management

The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 24 June 2010 and registered as a charity on 3 September 2010.

The company was established under a Memorandum of Association which establishes the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its Articles of Association. In the event of the company being wound up, trustees are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £1.

The directors of the company are also the charity trustees for the purpose of charity law. Currently there are three serving trustees (see page 3) and under the requirements of the Articles of Association the number of serving trustees should not be less than three.

The charity is managed on a day to day basis by a full time employee (campaign director) and a board of trustees, supported by advisors. The trustees and campaign director meet approximately six times a year.

Objective, Mission and Principal Activity

The charity’s Objects as set out in the Memorandum of Association are to promote for the benefit of the public the protection and conservation of threatened marine species and of the wider marine environment and to advance the education of the public in the conservation and protection of threatened marine species and of the wider marine environment.

The organisation endeavours to accomplish these goals by creating an online resource that clearly identifies marine species at risk through over-fishing and over-consumption and highlights the consequences of over-fishing and over-consumption. Motivate the UK food industry to halt the sale of threatened marine species and products derived from sharks. Empower the general public with a unified and compassionate voice that allows individual and direct communication with key retailers.

Public Benefit

We have referred to the guidance in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on Public Benefit when reviewing our aims and objectives and in planning our future activities. In particular, the trustees consider how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives they have set.

Bite-Back works towards the goal of marine conservation and saving marine species and habitats from extinction. This goal is to the benefit of all people, saving the oceans, which provides 70 per cent of global oxygen, allowing the planet to survive. Protecting the oceans by reducing the over- fishing (the No.1 threat to the marine environment), is the primary goal of the organisation.

Page 5 of 13

Bite-Back Shark&MarineConservation

For the year ended 30 June 2021

Strategic Objectives for 2020/21

The strategic objectives for Bite-Back in 2020/21 were to deliver against programmes and campaigns to reduce the consumption of threatened fish species across the UK while growing support and funding for the charity.

Risk Management

The trustees have identified the major risks applicable to the charity and believe that appropriate action has been taken to mitigate these risks. The trustees will continue to keep the adequacy of the systems under review.

Activity Report

Measurable progress against the charity’s mission save the sharks, protect the oceans and spread the word has been achieved during the period 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021. However the COVID-19 pandemic has presented a series of challenges for the charity.

Despite this backdrop, the charity’s profile as a leading player operating in the marine conservation arena was boosted by its campaigns, partnerships and media coverage.

Hacked Off campaign

To comply with government guidance on Covid, restaurants in the UK were required to close. While this made it difficult for the charity to engage with establishments selling shark fin soup, the pandemic also forced restaurants to review and revise menus and, in many instances, no longer stock expensive items. It is now believed there are fewer than eight restaurants selling the controversial dish.

No Fin To Declare campaign

WE WON. Following the UK’s departure from the EU, Bite-Back turned its attentions to developing a strategy of engagement and influence with the Department of the Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFRA) to impose a UK ban on the personal importation of shark fins. In a series of meeting with minister for the environment, Lord Zac Goldsmith, and the specialist fisheries team at DEFRA, Bite-Back steered the agenda in favour of a world-leading ban on the import and export of shark fins.

In addition, the charity developed and circulated a five point directive to encourage MPs to vote in favour of a ban, should a petition on the topic get read in parliament.

On 12 May 2021, the government announced that new legislation will require all imported and exported shark fins to remain attached to the shark carcass and only traded as a whole commodity, effectively making it incredibly difficult and no longer profitable to trade shark fins. Previously, the UK exported 10 tonnes of shark fins every year.

In a statement of support for the ban, the charity said: “This news puts the UK at the forefront of shark conservation and represents a further blow to a global industry that is forcing sharks closer to the brink of extinction. We applaud the government for using Brexit to side-step this archaic EU legislation and instead lead the world in the conservation of sharks and the oceans. We hope and believe this announcement will encourage other European countries to impose similar constraints.”

Mind Your Language campaign

Bite-Back’s ongoing engagement with the media, to address its inflammatory use of language when describing shark encounters, continues to attract support. The charity’s Mind Your Language campaign has given supporters a platform from which to challenge journalists on the topic of language, highlighting the absurdity of sensational headlines. On several occasions this year the charity has been happy to advise overseas organisations wanting to replicate the campaign message in their territories too.

Page 6 of 13

Bite-Back Shark&MarineConservation

For the year ended 30 June 2021

Public Events and Outreach

Against the backdrop of COVID-19 the charity turned its attention to improving its outreach via social media channels, particularly embracing Instagram. The new programme of activity saw Bite-Back engage with a growing audience of supporters, more frequently, with new and original content to underpin its core activities. Once again the annual Dive Show event was cancelled. Not only did this impact the charity’s public outreach plans, it impacted its fundraising goals too.

Fundraising

Fundraising for shark and marine conservation initiatives during a global pandemic has been especially hard. However Bite-Back is proud to have increased its membership numbers and benefitted from the fundraising efforts of individuals.

For the fifteenth year, Bite-Back enjoyed the support of 12 high profile underwater photographers who donated images and commentary on the marine environment, for the charity to publish in an educational and fundraising calendar.

Financial Review

Bite-Back is committed to optimising administrative costs and increasing revenue to maximise the reach of its conservation programmes.

Income in 2021 was £42,533 (2020: £58,636) and charitable expenditure was £38,290 (2020: £41,600).

Some funds were used to pay the salary of a campaign director plus outreach material, events plus design and print.

Reserves Policy

The trustees have reviewed the reserves of the charity. To safeguard the core activities in periods of fluctuating income, the trustees have determined to establish unrestricted reserves to cover six to twelve months of operational costs. Should funds fall below £18,000 or costs increase, appropriate action will be taken.

Free reserves at 30 June 2021 were £91,556 (2020: £87,313).

The trustees are satisfied with the current level of free reserves.

Plans for the future

Bite-Back’s plans for the future include:

Make Britain’s retailers shark-free Identify retailers selling threatened and vulnerable fish species Work with retailers to end the sale of identified fish species Build relationships with current donors and organisations Develop new fundraising opportunities Provide clear reference point for marine conservation information Host educational and outreach events

Page 7 of 13

Bite-Back Shark&MarineConservation

For the year ended 30 June 2021

Statement of trustees’ responsibilities

The charity’s trustees, who are also directors of Bite-Back Shark & Marine Conservation for the purposes of company law, are responsible for preparing the trustees’ annual report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.

Charity law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the trustees have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). The financial statements are required by law to give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charity for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to

select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP (Statement of Recommended Practice; make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

state whether applicable UK accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;

prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charity's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of the financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Small Company Rules

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part VII of the Companies Act 1985 relating to small companies and in accordance with the Standard Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015), the “Charities SORP (FRS 102)”.

This report was approved by the Board on 24 March 2022 and signed on its behalf by:

TIM BARKEY

Trustee, Bite Back Shark & Marine Conservation

Page 8 of 13

Bite-Back Shark&MarineConservation

For the year ended 30 June 2021

Independent Examiner's Report to the Members of Bite Back Shark & Marine Conservation

I report on the accounts of the company for the year ended 30 June 2021, which are set out on pages 10 to 14 in this document.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The trustees (who are also the directors of the company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit under company law and is eligible for independent examination, it is my responsibility to:

Basis of independent examiner's report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair view' and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent examiner's statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:

to keep accounting records in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006; and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records, comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 and with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities have not been met; or

to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Catherine Green ACA (ICAEW) Independent Examiner 22 Cintra Park, Crystal Palace, SE19 2LH

Date: 21 March 2022

Page 9 of 13

Bite-Back Shark&MarineConservation

For the year ended 30 June 2021

Statement of Financial Activities

(Incorporating an Income and Expenditure Account) For the year ended 30th June 2021

Notes Unrestricted Unrestricted Total Unrestricted Total
funds 2021 2021 funds 2020 2020
£ £ £ £
INCOME FROM:
Voluntary income
Donations, grants and charitable 1 42,533 42,533 58,636 58,636
sales
Total income for the charity 42,533 42,533 58,636 58,636
EXPENDITURE ON:
Charitable activities
Charitable expenditures 2 38,290 38,290 41,600 41,600
Total expenditure of the charity 38,290 38,290 41,600 41,600
Net income (expenditure) 4,243 4,243 17,036 17,036
Reconciliation of funds:
Net movement in funds 4,243 4,243 17,036 17,036
Total funds bought forward 87,313 87,313 70,277 70,277
Total funds carried forward 3 91,556 91,556 87,313 87,313

All activities derive from continuing operations

The notes on page 14-15 form a part of these financial statements.

Bite-Back Shark & Marine Conservation is a company limited by guaranteed and registered in England & Wales # 7294489

Page 10 of 14

Bite-Back Shark&MarineConservation

For the year ended 30 June 2021

Bite-Back Shark & Marine Conservation Balance Sheet as at 30[th] June 2021

Note
2021
£
CURRENT ASSETS:amounts receivable
within one year
Debtors
-
Cash in bank and in hand
94,224
CURRENT LIABILITIES:amounts falling due
within one year
Taxation and social security
(569)
Other creditors
(2,099)
Net current assets
Net assets
Charity Funds
Unrestricted funds
3
The trustees state:		 2021
2020
£
£
2,059
88,033
94,224
(2,779)
—
(2,668)
91,556		 2020
£
90,092
(2,779)
87,313
91,556 87,313
91,556 87,313

(a) For the year ended June 2021 the charitable company was entitled to exemption under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006.

(b) No notice from members requiring an audit has been deposited under Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.

(d) The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to small companies within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 and in accordance with the provisions of the Charities SORP (effective 1 January 2015).

The notes on page 14 form a part of these financial statements. The financial statements were approved by the Board on 24 March 2022, and signed on their behalf by:

TIM BARKEY

Trustee, Bite-Back Shark & Marine Conservation

Page 11 of 14

Bite-Back Shark&MarineConservation

For the year ended 30 June 2021

Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 30th June 2021

Accounting Policies Basis of Accounting

These financial statements have been prepared on the going concern basis and the historical cost convention and in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practices which have been consistently applied throughout the year. The Trustees’ Report and the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006, the Memorandum and Articles of Association, and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK (FRS102)(effective 1 January 2019). The charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS102.

The charity has taken advantage of the provisions of Schedule 4 of the Companies Act and adapted the Companies Act formats to reflect the special nature of the charity's activities.

The following principal accounting policies, which are unchanged from the previous year, have been consistently applied in preparing the financial statements.

Income of the Charity

All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) when the charity is legally entitled to receipt and it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of income can be measured reliably. Income is shown by component of income.

Grant income

Funds received from the Government’s furlough scheme are reported as a grant. The related salary cost is shown within charitable expenditures.

Expenditure of the Charity

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the components of expenditure. Wherever possible costs are directly attributed to these headings.

The Statement of Financial Activities has been based on the nature of incomes and expenditures as permitted by the Charity SORP for smaller charities below the audit threshold as it is considered that this approach is more informative to users of the accounts.

Fund Accounting

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.

Page 12 of 14

Bite-Back Shark&MarineConservation

For the year ended 30 June 2021

Notes to the Financial Statements – for the year ended 30th June 2021

1 Donations and charitable sales
Voluntary income
Donations and membership
Grant
Merchandise sales
Other income
HMRC Job Retention Scheme
Total income
HMR
2 Expenditure on charitable activities
Charitable expenditures
Merchandise costs
Employee’s salary
Employers’ nat. insurance
Events
Website
Administration and research
3 Funds
Unrestricted funds
Total		 Unrestricted
Total
Unrestricted
Total
Funds 2021
2021
Funds 2020
2020
£
£
£
£
16,841
16,841
32,367
32,367
3,542
3,542
2,347
2,347
13,680
13,680
23,922
23,922
8,470
8,470
-
-
42,533
42,533
58,636
58,636
Unrestricted
Total
Unrestricted
Total
Funds 2021
£
2021
£
Funds 2020
£
2020
£
3,147
3,147
7,109
7,109
32,314
32,314
30,566
30,566
-
-
-
-
-
-
1,439
1,439
456
456
-
-
2,373
2,373
2,486
2,486
38,290
38,290
41,600
41,600
Balance
Income
Expend-
Balance
B/Fwd.
idture
C/Fwd.
£
£
£
£
87,313
42,533
(38,290)
91,556
87,313
42,533
(38,290)
91,556

Please refer to the Trustees' Report to find out more about our activities.

4 Members' Guarantee

At 30 June 2021 the charity had 4 members. The liability of each member to contribute to the assets of the charity in the event of a winding up is limited to £1.

5 Related party transactions

There were no related party transactions during the period.

Page 13 of 14

Bite-Back Shark&MarineConservation

For the year ended 30 June 2021

6. Staff Costs

The company had one employee during the year.

Gross Salary
Employer’s social security costs		 Total 2021
£
32,000
314
32,314		 Total 2020
£
32,000
(1,434)
30,566

The average number of staff employed expressed as an equivalent number of full time was 1 (2020: 1). The average head count was 1 (2020: 1). No employees earned in excess of £60,000 in the year.

7. Payments to trustees

No trustees received remuneration for their services to Bite-Back, or were reimbursed expenses during the year.

Page 14 of 14