March 2024

“Charting a course towards co-management for UK fishing” – three-day York event brings together fishermen, scientists and fisheries managers.

Continuing a run of innovative, three-day events for those working in and alongside the fishing industry, the Fisheries Resource Education Programme (F-REP) – led by the charity Fishing into the Future – has been championed as a vital foundation for effective fisheries co-management in the UK. Highlighting just how impactful these events are to support different fisheries actors in working together, fisherman Alan Steer commented: “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. 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.”

The latest instalment of the F-REP programme took place at the end of February at Burn Hall in Yorkshire. And whilst 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. Over 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 like an ‘Industry-Science Mixer’ – all designed to bring together these groups in a cohesive way; energising the industry for meaningful co-management.

A previous F-REP event in Southampton (November 2023) saw one attendee say it had ‘restored his faith in the future of fishing,’ joining a chorus of other positive comments from attendees, saying how they felt reinvigorated and listened to by the Government.

“It’s certainly not an ‘all work, no play’ set-up” explains 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”.

Emma emphasises 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.”

Whilst there are a range of challenges facing the fishing industry, 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 explains. “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.”

Reflecting on the whole experience at the end of the event, one fisherman in attendance said: “I had a very, very jaded view of policymakers and scientists built up over the years, but coming here and socialising and humanising everyone has been a wonderful learning experience and I thank you all.”

Another added, “You brought all these ‘out of reach’ people into the room and gave us the confidence to ask questions”.

Further insights into F-REP sessions from FITF’s Emma Plotnek

The F-REP York agenda was diverse, with a balance of learning, listening, talking and participation in activities and tasks.

 “We want to avoid sitting around and looking at presentations and slides with just one person talking – we have to consider that a lot of the people in the room are used to being up early, physically working their bodies, and learning through doing – so a classroom environment is not our style”

On Day One, the learning around science and data collection was buffered with an activity led by Steve Mackinson (Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association) and Ewen Bell (CEFAS) who set groups the task of designing a data collection survey for a crab fishery, testing different approaches with a strict budget constraint. This challenged attendees to figure out the most efficient and effective approach to data collection. “Using cups full of beans to represent sampling boats at sea, it got people thinking from a different perspective, and illustrated the principles and potential flaws of data collection systems, which were quickly grasped by everyone in the room – even those with a self-proclaimed phobia of maths and numbers.”

Day Two included a session that had groups of fishermen, scientists and policymakers sit down together in small groups to define their “core values” – a set of beliefs held that shape the way they would want to proceed with fisheries management, sharing individual values to build understanding, and reaching consensus on collective values that cut across everyone involved and provide a springboard for working together. The notes from discussions taken during this session were captured and will be put together by FITF to feed back to everyone involved, and then echo back to the Government as guidance for future ways of working. “The session was hard at first, as we often don’t discuss our deeply-held beliefs that are tied to emotions and cultures. But informally, this was likened to relationship therapy for everyone involved, giving everyone a space to talk about the situations that have been hard in the past and what we would like to see done differently. The intention is that this allows everyone to navigate complex situations while keeping their identities and cultures at the forefront.”

A highlight of Day Three were insights from retail, as FITF was joined by Marks & Spencer’s Aquaculture and Fisheries Manager, Linda Wood, delivering a talk on seafood markets, sourcing and working with the industry to meet their criteria for responsible sourcing. This included initiatives based on developing technology and innovating alongside industry. “Seeing the human face behind a big name like Marks & Spencer, who wanted to come and talk to us and get involved in the event was a real privilege. Understanding their sourcing policies, their intentions to connect British suppliers into their range, and why that is important but sometimes impossible was really revealing, it was rounded up nicely as we all admitted we felt really privileged to be able to have this interaction and learn from each other.” 

November 2023

FITF workshop hailed a huge success

First of event series brought together fishermen, scientists and policy-makers. Fishing into the Future’s first Fisheries Resource Education Programme involving participants from across the English fishing industry finished last Thursday, 9 November.

The three-day workshop had amongst its aims helping those at the sharp end of the industry to be fully involved with all aspects of feeding into the developing Fisheries Management Plans, and creating First of event series brought together fishermen, scientists and policy-makers an opportunity for fishermen, scientists and policy-makers to work together to develop fisheries research and policy. Well-known Cornish skipper David Stevens, chairman of FITF, told FN shortly after the event: “We are really pleased with how everything has worked out. There was real and genuine engagement across the three days from everyone involved. “We normally overbook these events slightly, to allow for no-shows, but in fact we had 100% attendance of those who had booked, and were well oversubscribed for it.”

A closing comment from one skipper, not entirely sure of what he would encounter, was similar to many participants: “I came with my 18-year-old son, and I really feared for his and my future, as no one seemed to care. Nor did we know how to engage with anyone who would care. Now, after attending this event, we know how to do just that. I feel we now have a future in fishing.”

The event was not only about the various aspects of engagement with Fisheries Management Plans, where the active involvement of both Defra and the MMO resulted in some very successful sessions, but covered a wide range of other discussions and events including an evening industry-science ‘mixer’ hosted at the University of Southampton science park.

See the full article here – published in Fishing News 30th November 2023

September 2023

Fishing into the Future relaunches residential events to support fishermen, scientists and policymakers to work together effectively 

Fishing into the Future – an industry-led charity with a mission to chart a course to sustainable and prosperous U.K. fisheries – has announced the launch of its Fisheries Research Education Programme (F-REP) and are encouraging fishermen from across the UK to apply for a place. F-REP is pitched as a series of three-day residential events taking place in multiple locations around the country. The events aim to provide an opportunity for people from fishing, science and policymaking to learn from each other’s expertise and work together effectively ahead of the implementation of Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) – which are set to radically overhaul the way commercial fishing is managed in the UK.

This will be the fifth residential event that Fishing into the Future has run since its inception but the first since Brexit and the COVID pandemic. The landscape of fisheries management has shifted significantly in this time with the release of the Joint Fisheries Policy, which commits to a movement towards co-management. The new systems of managing commercial fishing through Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) provides the opportunity for all interested groups to contribute to decisions about the management of marine resources.

Explaining why she believes the F-REP programme is an important step to facilitating a co-management approach in the U.K., Emma Plotnek, Fishing into the Future’s Executive Director, said: “The success of co-management depends on having the right conditions for everyone to work together.

“Through the programme, fishermen gain an understanding of the limits and structure of the management system and the science that underpins it. Equally important, policymakers understand the reality of working in the fishing industry, so policy reflects the real-life social and financial situations of members of the industry.

“On a human level, people build connections and trust, coming away being able to pick up the phone and have an honest conversation and really listen and understand one another.”

While each event is regional and focuses on local fish and shellfish species and the FMPs related to them, Emma is eager to make it clear that this is “not another platform for dissecting and developing policy, rather it’s an opportunity to build the skills, knowledge and connections that enable everyone to confidently contribute to the Working Groups for FMPs or Regional Fisheries Groups.”

Emphasising the value of fishermen attending these events, Emma also said,  “Fishing is not just about catching fish, it involves so much more. It requires staying informed about policy and research, knowing the right places to influence and participate in fisheries management and getting involved in data collection. This requires an understanding of fisheries management and science – which from afar, can seem complex. This is why we provide a space to discuss and ask questions in a language understood by all.”

“These will not be your average ‘workshops’. They are tailored to learning and connecting. We co-design the events with the people involved; we have a planning team for each one comprised of members from the local industry. We eat, learn and socialise throughout the time we are together to build an honest and meaningful experience.”

“Fishing into the Future is built and guided by fishermen. This means we use fishermen as facilitators, strive to develop interesting sessions with active learning that resonates with everyone involved, and put a big focus on relationship building. The magic happens when people sit next to each other and eat a meal, get chatting, find common ground and see each other not just as another fisherman on the quayside or another civil servant in an office – but a human with a life and a job driven by the same passion for fisheries.”

Two F-REP events have already been planned with more to come. The first is from 6th-9th November at Chilworth Manor, just outside Southampton. The second is in Yorkshire from 26th-29th February next year. The programme has received a combination of funding from the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme, the Fishmongers’ Company’s Fisheries Charitable Trust and the Seafarers Charity.

According to Fishing into the Future, there will be sessions on fisheries management, science, data collection, economics and social science – with an opportunity to quiz experts and have a conversation without the technical jargon. There will be a chance to develop confidence and communication skills, while fishermen will be encouraged to swap stories and tips for running an effective fishing business. Eager not to have a rigid lecture-style set-up, the sessions will be interactive, with a strong emphasis on learning by doing.

Recognising that fishermen need to spend time at sea, Fishing into the Future has sought industry guidance on the best time to schedule the F-REP events to minimise disruption. However, recognising that this will still involve fishermen taking time away from their vessel, they have committed to covering all travel expenses and have set some funding aside to remunerate fishermen for their involvement.

Applications to participate in both F-REP events are currently open. You can sign up by completing a short online form on the Fishing Porthole website, or if you’re looking for more information, interested individuals are encouraged to contact Emma at [email protected].

May 2023

May 2023

Fishermen facilitated workshops bridge connections between industry and researchers.

Fishing into the Future is playing a pivotal role in a social research project providing industry guidance, communications support, and fishermen facilitators to build trust and bridge connections between industry and academia.

The industry-led charity, Fishing into the Future is an independent UK charity with a mission to deliver long term, sustainable and prosperous fisheries through collaboration, effective dialogue, and mutual understanding between fisheries management, science, and industry stakeholders. A strategic partnership that includes core funding from the Fishmongers Company Fisheries Charitable Trust while building up a profile of charitable activities. Their unique, co-management centred approach promotes industry participation in fisheries research and co-management, which was recently reflected by their role to support the DEFRA funded research to develop and co-design with industry a Commercial Fisheries Social Survey, led by the Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI) at the University of Gloucestershire.

Fishing into the Future The DEFRA-funded project aims to inform development of an annual national-scale survey of commercial fisheries, that aims to inform and support fisheries management. The survey will collect data on health & wellbeing, cultural identity, community, traditions, and values with a vision to design the survey in a co-produced way, whereby industry stakeholders have an opportunity to say what they feel needs to be included. The team at the CCRI are working with Fishing into the Future to directly reach fishermen and people working in the catching sector on the priorities & issues to include in the survey. This includes in-person workshops at fishing ports, as well as workshops online between March – May 2023.

Executive Director, Emma Plotnek, along with several other members of the Board of Trustees including fishermen, economists and academics are involved in the project, providing guidance and feedback to ensure the approaches remain relevant to the industry and industry-facilitators at the in-person events. Fishing into the Future also provided a tailored communications to reach industry, including a landing page on their Fishing Porthole Website and using their established connections to reach fishermen via mail, social media and WhatsApp. Industry participation was further encouraged as a one-off payment to cover fishermen’s time and expertise was paid by Fishing into the Future, in funding secured from DEFRA and the Seafarers’ Charity.

Emma Plotnek, FITF Executive Director said:

“We have many experienced, forward-thinking people on our Trusteeship, so we are very well positioned play a supporting role to communicate, provide advice and build trust and connections in projects such as this one. In particular, being able to have fishermen from our Board of Trustees facilitating and actively participating in the workshops has been so valuable to the work, as the participants see a member of their local industry vouching for the credibility of this work, and able to keep the jargon to a minimum and bridge gaps in understanding between industry and the researchers, and vice versa.

When the team at the University of Gloucestershire asked us to be involved in the co-design process, we saw this as a fantastic opportunity to support the advancement of industry, researchers and policymakers towards co-management.  It’s well known that social data is scarce in the fishing industry, so we want to encourage meaningful research that could potentially inform future fisheries management and capture the social situation within the industry and how it changes over time.”

More information on the project can be viewed on the Fishing Porthole website. If you would like to get involved with the charity you can visit the website, follow them on social media or contact the FITF Executive Director, Emma Plotnek, for more information.

Contact: [email protected]

February 2023

New members appointed to Fishing into the Future Board of Trustees

Five new industry experts have been appointed to the Fishing into the Future (FITF) board of trustees, bringing new insights to guide its charitable activities. 

As of February 2023, five new Trustees have joined the FITF board of Trustees, creating renewed momentum and new perspectives to guide future projects. The new trustees include Carl Davies a commercial fishermen, skipper, and Marine Science graduate from Conwy; Jenny and Karl Price, a fishing family and owners of the vessel Isobella M, fishing for shellfish out of Bridlington; Jamie Robertson, the Managing Director of the Holderness Fishing Industry Group (HFIG) and Alison Freeman, Fisheries Programme Manager at The Fishmongers’​ Company.

The Trustees are currently sharing ideas around promoting and preparing for co-management and industry participation in the science used in decision making, specifically getting involved in bringing back FITF’s popular in-person events for later in the year, with the Board of Trustees currently focused on planning learning experiences to support engagement in Fisheries Management Plans, to share knowledge and create connections to promote mutual dialogue between the fishing industry, scientists, and fisheries managers.

Emma Plotnek, FITF Executive Director said:

“We have many experienced, forward-thinking people on our Trusteeship, and bringing new people onboard shows us that they support our core values and believe in the potential we have as a charity.

David Stevens, FIFT Chairperson said:

“We are injecting new ideas and energy into the charity, and continually striving to ensure we grow and adapt in response our belief that long-term sustainability requires fishermen at the heart of fisheries co-management.”

Newly inducted Trustee, Jamie Robertson from HFIG, said:

“As the head of a shell fisherman’s trade association, also participating in industry-led research with our own research vessel, I’m keen to share my insights and guidance with the charity and looking forward to see FITF’s work can benefit the fishermen we work with.”

Newly inducted Trustee, Alison Freeman from Fishmongers’ Company, said:

“I am delighted to have been accepted onto the Board of Trustees at Fishing into the Future. Having worked with Emma and the Trustees for a few years’, I know first-hand the passion and effort that goes into supporting dialogue between stakeholders and an industry-led approach to management and science.”

Jenny and Karl Price, Fishing Family from Bridlington, said:

“We are excited to be part of the FITF team, having gotten to know their work participating on a project together, we are looking forward to being able to put our ideas and knowledge into the mix and helping to bridge the gap between fishermen and science.”

The full board of Trustees can be viewed here. If you would like to get involved with the charity you can follow us on social media or contact the FITF Executive Director, Emma Plotnek, for more information.

May 2022

FITF launches the Fishing Porthole Website 

Fishermen-led charity, Fishing into the Future (FITF), is launching a new website this Friday. The Fishing Porthole website is a dedicated portal, spearheaded by the fishing industry, aimed at improving understanding and collaboration in fisheries management and science.

The Fishing Porthole offers a free and open access online resource to provide a one-stop-shop for learning, sharing, collaborating and supporting people in the industry with the tools to become better informed and connected within the fisheries sector.  The site presents new purpose-built resources, created in collaboration with a team of experts from universities, industry and government, on a growing range of topics such as public speaking, accessing funding, jargon busting, a map of who’s who of the UK fishing industry, fisheries science, fisheries management and economics.

David Stevens, Fishermen and FITF Chairman said “As fishermen, we are used to navigating fishing grounds, but less confident at finding our way round the internet. Too often, the important stuff is spread over various websites, buried through endless links, and it’s not an intuitive process to find out what we need.”  The collaborative site will host Fishing into the Futures bitesize learning resources, and also link to third-party materials to help streamline important, sought-after information into one simple-to-navigate platform.  David added “We also have a problem within the industry with misinformation and identifying credible science from fake news, or sometimes if you want to raise an issue about fisheries science or management, it can be unclear how to go about it and who to reach out to. This site will provide a foundation to improve the way we connect, communicate, and participate in fisheries – effectively breaking down some of the barriers and giving people in the industry a better opportunity to access the best knowledge and communicate with one another about science, management, and seafood business.”

The timely development of the website aligns with the UK government reaffirming its ambition to achieve world-class sustainable fisheries management in the Draft Joint Fisheries Statement, along with developing and strengthening arrangements for co-management. Fishing into the Future’s ethos is based around a co-management built on shared participation, effective dialogue and mutual understanding between the fishing industry, scientists, and fishermen managers, in particular, enabling more representative participation of people working in UK fisheries. The initial build of the Porthole Website already includes accessible information to develop knowledge and help people reach out and communicate with one another, with further resources under development to be shared at a later date.

FITF Executive Director, Emma Plotnek, said, “Before Covid we focused on in person interactions, but the last couple of years has led us to link up online, on a variety of different platforms. This website will support our continued in-person workshops and events and be accessible to a wider group of people working in fisheries.”

She added, ”We don’t think of this as our own creation – we have spoken to people in the industry, science and management and putting their bright ideas into action, it’s a resource by and for everyone working in UK fisheries. It’s still in its infancy and we are ambitious that it will flourish according to what is relevant.”

The website can be viewed here will launch on Friday 13^th May, while Emma and a team of trustees will be at Stand 82 at the Skippers Expo in Aberdeen to demonstrate and hear industry feedback and ideas.

Contact, Email: [email protected] Telephone/ WhatsApp 07311 812105

March 2022

Fish Talks: The Draft Joint Fisheries Statement (JFS) – Last Call for Views

 

A 12 week public consultation on the Draft Joint Fisheries Statement (JFS) is coming to a close on the 12th April. The JFS is key component of the UK Fisheries Act 2020, as it will set out the legally binding policies the UK Government and Devolved Governments will follow to manage fisheries and aquaculture.

Many individuals and groups within the UK catching sector have already given, or are in the process of sharing feedback and views on the draft Statement. With one week to go, Fishing into the Future will be holding an informal talk for fishermen and people working in the seafood industry with an aim to further knowledge and encourage participation within a fishermen-led space. 

The event will be held at 5PM on Tuesday 5th April, and will be hosted by FITF Chairman, David Stevens. Follow this link to sign up and join the conversation. For further information you can read a DEFRA produced Factsheet here, or we recommend catching up on the latest Fathom Podcast.

February 2022

November 2021

Fishing into the Future has joined forces with the Fishing Animateurs and The Fishmongers’ Company’ Fisheries Charitable Trust to support the development of industry-driven scientific studies. We are encouraging the fishing industry to come forward with their initial ideas for how research might improve their fishery.

Project proposals should be in line with the objectives of the Fisheries Industry Science Partnership (FISP) scheme and seek to:

1. Improve data collection, particularly for data limited species,
2. enhance knowledge of technical measures, including fishing gear selectivity, and/or
3. build a better understanding of the ecosystem benefits and environmental impacts of aquaculture.

To enable access to the FISP scheme, the project will connect the fishing industry to relevant fisheries scientists, who can help to develop their ideas further. Once a preliminary plan has been identified, the Fishing Animateurs will then apply for ‘research development’ funds, under the first stage (Part A) of the FISP scheme. If suitable, Fishing into the Future can support the development of the research proposal by building connections between industry and science, developing knowledge and sharing information, and facilitating the development of a research proposal.

The FISP scheme is a competitive process. Successful projects under Part A (i.e., the development of a research study) will be given matched funds by the Fishmongers’ Company’ Fisheries Charitable Trust. Fully developed scientific proposals can apply for funding under the FISP (Part B) scheme.

If you have an idea for a project, your first step is to contact the Animateurs:

Call: 01736 362782 to leave a message about your project idea.
Text: 07534580450 with your name, project theme and size of vessel.
Email: [email protected]

If you want to help us spread the word on this initiative, you can download and share this call to action, or this poster with the steps on how to write a collaborative research proposal.

October 2021

Seven new industry experts have been appointed to the Fishing into the Future (FITF) board of trustees, expanding the geographical reach of the Trusteeship and enriching the expertise available to guide its charitable activities. 

As of October 2021, seven new Trustees have joined the FITF board of Trustees, creating renewed momentum and new perspectives to guide future projects. The new Trustees are currently getting involved in ongoing work to develop community learning resources that will support the transition towards co-management and more collaborative science, as well as preparing the launch of a new website “the Fishing Porthole” that will provide a one-stop-shop for learning, sharing & working together.

Emma Plotnek, FITF Executive Director said:

“We are already supported by a wealth of experienced, forward-thinking people and by growing our Trusteeship it shows people in the industry believe in our core values and potential as a charity. We are injecting new ideas and energy into the charity and are striving to ensure we represent the different scales and geographies within the industry, as well as include more women and young voices.”

The new trustees include David Anderson, CEO of the Aberdeen Fish Producers Organisation Ltd.; Orkney based Hannah Fennell, Head of Orkney Fisheries Association and Researcher; Trevor Jones, fisherman, fish farmer and expert in fishing safety based out of North Wales; Northern Irish fisherman Jimmy Kelly, based out of Portavogie; Norfolk-based vessel owner Ashley Mullenger, better known on social media as the “the Female Fisherman”; Mike Park, CEO of the Scottish White Fish Producer Organisation; and Neil Witney, owner and skipper of About Time NN8 based out of Newhaven in East Sussex.

Newly inducted Trustee, Ashley Mullenger, said:

“It’s both an honour and a responsibility to be inducted onto the board of Trustees, despite being relatively fresh in my career as a fisherman, it’s clear how important it is to understand the science that drives our management policies, whilst also engaging the fishing community in our various upcoming projects, which will help us to play a clear role in the future of the industry”

Read about our Board of Trustees on the “Meet the Team” Webpage.

September 2021

Fishing into the Future shares knowledge and experience from the Scottish Pelagic Industry Self-Sampling Programme

Fishing into the Future continues it’s mission to share knowledge with an insight into how to improve understanding around providing industry-dependent information to accurately inform fisheries policy and management.

The highlights of a conversation with FITF Trustee Dr. Steven Mackinson & Dr. Katie Brigden, part of the team behind the Scottish Pelagic Industry Self-Sampling Programme, are available to view on the FITF YouTube channel. They spoke about their experience with industry-led data collection and relaying information to decision makers. The discussion includes the processes used for data collection, which ensures that data is credible and compatible with other data sources and suitable to feed into decision making. The overall gain for the industry is that they are able to provide more data for use in decision making, and they have more confidence in the data being used to manage their fisheries.

May 2021

Event summary encourages a commitment to co-management in future policy

 

Following their relaunch event, the industry-led charity Fishing into the Future (FITF) has published an event summary that encourages a commitment to the language of co-management in future fishing policy.

The ground-breaking ‘Cast Your Voice – The Future of Fisheries Management’ event on 1^st April 2021 focused on creating a dialogue around fishing, science and policy, and was well-attended by a variety of people within the UK the fishing sector. It provided an opportunity for people working in fisheries to explore the concept of co-management, share their experiences and diverse approaches to management and science, and discuss their ideas for the future of UK fisheries management.

The highlight of the event came from within intimate, thought-provoking group discussions, led by FITF  fishing industry Trustees, David Stevens, Adrian Bartlett, Peter Bruce, and Jimmy Buchan. Conversations emphasized the importance of true collaboration between industry members in policy and science, and ensuring well-structured and transparent management processes while trialling new approaches of working together.

During the discussions there was a desire to move towards long-term commitments, with ideas put forward on what this might look like, how they could be funded, and how existing initiatives could be brought together effectively, with an appetite to see these approaches incorporated into policy.

Emma Plotnek, FITF Programme Manager said:

“We already know of so many forward-thinking initiatives that have the attributes of effective co-management and industry-led data collection – however, we must also remember we are still figuring out what co-management and collaborative science will look like in the UK. Looking to the future, we hope to see people from the industry engaged in the development of policies that tie these efforts all together.”

The event brought together a number of renowned, multi-disciplinary contributors, including Alexa Dayton, Scientist at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, who explained the US approach to fisheries management; Gus Caslake, Independent Chair of the Cornish Sardine Management Association, who spoke of collaboration and data collection within the organisation; Alan Steer, Vice-Chair of the South Devon and Channel Fishermen, who gave an insight into the history of the Inshore Potting Agreement in South Devon; and Jim Evans, Chair of the Welsh Fishermen’s Association (WFA), who presented on the effective relationship between the WFA and marine scientists to obtain data for better management decisions. These insights were followed up with some perceptions from within Government, with key messages shared by Robbie Fisher of DEFRA and Jim Watson of Marine Scotland.

It was highlighted during the event that the Scottish Fisheries Management Strategy 2020-2030 already uses clear language that is committed to co-management. During the event, Jim Watson of Marine Scotland reaffirmed that a commitment to co-management needs to be built into each part of the management process – established during the initial stages of development right through to delivery. Drawing on this valuable insight, FITF have drafted a summary of the event, in which one of the take home messages encourages the adoption of this approach more broadly into policy.

David Stevens, Chair of Fishing into the Future, said:

“A positive reception from government provided us with much reassurance, the next leap forward will be seeing specific wording in policy that commits all of us to these processes. We need to keep this at the forefront of our agenda as the Joint Fisheries Statement is being written throughout this year and next.”

FITF’s approach is unique and truly collaborative, as the charity is led predominantly by fishermen and those working in the fishing industry, who give their time voluntarily to support the charity whilst also running fishing businesses and working directly within the sector. FITF focuses on creating learning opportunities, encouraging collaboration, and providing a platform to enable effective dialogue and mutual understanding between the diverse set of people working across the fishing industry, science, and government.

The short and clearly written event summary is available here and the event is available here to re-watch in full.

April 2021

Adrian Bartlett reflects on the recent dialogue held on the Future of Fisheries Management

Industry-led UK charity, Fishing into the Future (FITF), relaunched with an online event on Thursday 1st April 2021. The event brought together people working in UK fisheries to share successful examples of co-management and industry-led data collection, which then led to a lively discussion on the inherent challenges and opportunities within these processes, and what this means for future management of our fisheries. FITF Vice-Chair, Adrian Bartlett, helped to facilitate this dialogue and has shared some of his thoughts post-event:

“I come from a family of fishermen in South Devon, and through the course of my life have worked my way up from deckhand to skipper, and now work throughout the supply chain, sharing my passion for locally sourced shellfish with the Great British public. Not long ago I took on a new challenge to fill the position of Vice-Chair at the independent and fishermen-led charity Fishing into the Future – and I had to rapidly step up to the position on April 1^st at the FITF relaunch event, by hosting a conversation around the future of fisheries management. While we were prepping, my fellow Trustees and I were nervous about how this conversation would go – never before has the industry endured such hard times, and people are angry and disillusioned while struggling to keep their heads above water. Given we’ve hit rock bottom, can we pull together to find our way back out?

I really have to hand it to the people from the industry who joined the event. Despite the difficulties we are faced with, people showed up to contribute respectfully and partake in a constructive dialogue on issues such as co-management and industry-led data collection. We saw old friends and new faces, small vessel owners who spoke for themselves and bigger players who have people that speak for them, and we encouraged some of the more timid voices among us to speak up and share their insights. We managed to have a rich conversation in a safe and neutral space where everyone’s voice was of equal value, and where government and scientists were willingly listening to us (and seemed to be agreeing with what we said!).

It gave me tremendous pride to feel part of a bigger picture, and I sincerely hope we carry on working together as one industry – putting aside fractious differences and pulling together over shared common goals, to move towards a better future for our fisheries sector.”

The full event can be viewed on the FITF Facebook page.

March 2021

Fishing into the Future encourage fishermen to join the discussion on fisheries management

Industry-led UK charity, Fishing into the Future (FITF), relaunches with an online event on Thursday 1st April 2021. The event aims to provide an opportunity for people working in UK fisheries to have their say on the future of UK fisheries management and will be chaired and facilitated by FITF trustees, who voluntarily support the charity while also running fishing businesses or working closely with the sector.

A year has passed since FITF was able to gather at London’s Docklands for their last residential event “Introduction to Sustainable Fishing”, but as the weather warms up and with better fishing ahead, the UK charity is taking an adapted approach by taking their events online.

FITF focuses on creating learning opportunities, encouraging collaboration, and providing a platform to enable effective dialogue and mutual understanding between the diverse set of people working in the fishing industry, science, and government. The event will focus on the future of fisheries management, as well as hearing some successful case studies of fisheries management and collaborative science from the UK and beyond.  Guests will include Deputy Director of Domestic Fisheries and Reform, Anne Freeman, Alan Steer, Vice-Chair of the South Devon and Channel Shellfishermen, Gus Caslake Independent Chair of the Cornish Sardine Management Association (CSMA), and more.

David Stevens, Chairperson at FITF and Skipper of the Crystal Sea SS 118 gave an insight into the event topic, saying “The term co-management is trending throughout industry conversations, but we still have a way to go to understand what it really means for us. There are already numerous fisheries in the UK that integrate some of the positive attributes of this management style, but widespread co-management is not going to happen overnight, it is going to take time and effort to build trust and knowledge, and tangible milestones need to be set along the way – such as more industry-led data collection. Undoubtedly, we will make mistakes, it’s part of the process to ensure that the sector will endure, grow, and prosper.”

Commenting on why FITF decided to hold the event, FITF Programme Manager, Emma Plotnek, said: “It’s been a tough year since we held our last event, but we want to offer the sector a space for constructive discussion and learning, and at the same time encourage a representative pool of people from the industry to get involved and voice their opinion.”

The event will be held over zoom, FITF will also be piloting the opportunity for people to watch the event live on their Facebook page. For those participating, break out rooms hosted by FITF trustees will enable deeper discussions on relevant topics. If you want to get involved, you can follow the event on the FITF Facebook Page, or contact the FITF programme manager.

SEE THE EVENT AGENDA HERE

September 2020

Fishing into the Future hires new Programme Manager

Thanks to additional funding from Seafarers UK, FITF has hired Fisheries and Seafood expert, Emma Plotnek, to lead their programme of work. Emma returns to the UK after gaining more than a decade of international experience working with coastal communities between Canada and Chilean Patagonia, on multidisciplinary projects focused on capture fisheries and the aquaculture sector.

Emma will be working with FITF’s Trustees to continue building on their education and leadership programme and peer-learning network – to create opportunities for fishermen, scientists and fisheries managers to come together, build trust, and find solutions based on collaborative approaches that incorporate a broad spectrum of knowledge and skills.

This work will help to better prepare the sector through the delivery events, webinars, and tailored workshops – as well as building digital resources, so the diverse stakeholders involved in the UK’s fishing sector can gain access to the skills, knowledge and connections they need to effectively participate in a range of management, science and business scenarios.

Due to the Covid-19 restrictions, the team at FITF will focus on building relationships and knowledge remotely through an online network and series of digital interventions and events, aiming to restart face to face activities in 2021.

Click here to contact Emma

The FCFCT supports a wide range of projects, grants, and convening, to Build and safeguard a prosperous and sustainable fishing industry, for the benefit of those engaged in it, the environment, and our island nation. This partnership will form part of a wider engagement the FCFCT has with the UK fishing industry and FCFCT’s Fish & Fisheries team will be working closely with the FITF team.

FITF and FCFCT will use their trusted networks to engage with fishermen, scientists, government, and seafood businesses to help build a transdisciplinary approach to fishery management that emphasises the need for collaborative problem‐solving among stakeholders. As two neutral and independent organisations, they are trusted facilitators within the seafood industry and have the freedom to develop innovative solutions.

With financial support from the FCFCT and additional resource capacity from one of the FCFCT’s Programme Managers, Alison Freeman, the collective aim of the partnership is to build upon the FITF education programmes and improve access to the tools, information and training needed to bolster the fishing industry and coastal economies. A priority going forward will be to develop a supportive alumni network, which will offer ongoing support and training to the attendees of FITF initiatives. Under the new direction,  FITF will also support regional and gear/species-specific meetings, workshops, and symposiums, as well as explore radical opportunities for participation in co-management and embed the FITF curriculum into early career development programmes.