An intensive three-day gathering in York has successfully brought together fishermen, scientists and fisheries managers.
The latest in a series of these innovative events for those working in and alongside the fishing industry, run by the Fisheries Resource Education Programme (F-REP) and led by the charity Fishing into the Future, has been championed as a vital foundation for effective fisheries co-management in the UK.
‘These events are game-changing for everyone involved. The learning and understanding gained over a few days sets you up to be informed and confident to hold discussions with scientists and managers, and the broad range of people in the room – from academics, funders and those at the top of fisheries management,’ said fisherman Alan Steer, highlighting just how much of an impact these events have.
‘As a fisherman, it’s taken me years to meet people like this and to have meaningful two-way conversations with them. Fishing into the Future pulls us all together and gets us fully immersed and engaged for three days of learning and connecting – which we have come away so much more energised.’
Held near York, while the event was conveniently located for fishermen working along the North-east coast shellfisheries, it drew participants from Wales, Scotland and the South coast of England, too. More than 60 individuals gathered, with active fishermen, marine and fisheries scientists, fisheries managers, and trade industry bodies in the room. Focused on fostering the conditions for truly sustainable and prosperous UK fisheries – building from the policy foundations set out in the UK Fisheries Act – the F-REP programme offers a chance for knowledge exchange, interactive workshops, fisheries management ‘games’ and informal sessions such as the Industry-Science Mixer, all designed to bring together these groups in a cohesive way; energising the industry for meaningful co-management.
‘It’s certainly not an ‘all work, no play’ set-up,’ explained Emma Plotnek, the Executive Director of FITF.
‘The sessions during the day – covering topics like science and data collection, establishing fishing associations, and the socio-economic aspects of fisheries management – are designed to encourage teamwork and collaborative thinking. And there are opportunities to put these skills into practice as we shift towards a co-management approach in UK fisheries.’
She emphasised an all-important and less tangible component of the F-REP programme’s success.
‘It’s also about getting to know each other on a personal level. While working in the same industry, and broadly sharing the same hopes and aspirations for the future of fishing, there’s not a lot of direct interaction between these individuals on a day-to-day basis. This is a unique feature of what we do. We provide a neutral space for us all to convene without the pressure of making a decision or delving into the weeds of one specific and contentious issue.’
While the fishing industry faces a range of challenges, FITF emphasises that the F-REP programme is designed to support fishermen to face these challenges head-on and organise with one another to share the load and speak with a united voice – something that will be important when participating in the delivery and development of Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs).
‘We understand that Fisheries Management Plans could pave the way for a more of a co-management styled approach, where fishermen have the opportunity to actively participate in management decision-making,’ Emma Plotnek explained.
‘This presents an opportunity to draw on the wealth of experience different fishermen have, including the ones that often don’t get a seat at the table due to a variety of barriers to being there. This is where F-REP comes in. By putting on specially tailored sessions exploring FMPs in detail, we’re aiming to create the optimal conditions for everybody to collectively work towards sustainable and prosperous fisheries – particularly building that confidence to engage with the process and stick with it, long-term.’
