As the Fisheries Bill progresses through Parliament on the way to becoming law, the way that UK fisheries are managed is likely to change in the future. One area of interest is the potential role of regional decision-making and governance, such as through local councils, enterprise partnerships and community-led initiatives.

The balance between national and regional decision-making is often debated. Whilst national policy and regulations can help standardise practices, implementation can be ill-fitting at the local level due to regional variations in fishing fleet composition, target species and interactions with other marine activities. Regional decision-making can ensure regulations are better suited to the local context, but it must consider national efforts and work effectively with other sectors.

Fisheries management decisions rarely fall under the remit of local councils, but this is changing in some parts of the UK, as increased connectivity between fisheries and other sectors is sought. Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) are also becoming more involved in fisheries in certain areas, such as through supporting seafood businesses. Additionally, regional initiatives such as Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs) are experiencing changes, as the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) comes to an end for the UK and is replaced by a national funding programme. 

In light of this pivotal period for the UK fishing industry, this online event sought to shed light on how regional governance and decision-making for fisheries management can intersect with national decisions. The event explored successful case studies in regional decision-making for UK fisheries and fishing communities.

You can find a recording of the event here, and a report of all the panelists’ answers here.

If you wish to attend, or for further information, contact us at secretariat@fisheriesappg.org.