FISHERMEN, POLICYMAKERS AND SCIENTISTS CHART THE FUTURE OF FISHING IN THE CLYDE

Fishermen, policymakers and scientists chart the future of fishing in the Clyde. Three-day residential event by the fishermen-led charity, Fishing into the Future, empowers fishermen to shape fisheries policy and science.

Last week, 50 fishermen, scientists, policymakers, and seafood industry leaders came together at Ingliston Estate, just northwest of Glasgow, for the first of Fishing into the Future’s Fisheries Resource Education Programme (F-REP) events to take place in the Clyde. This is the third immersive three-day residential event held by Fishing into the Future, with previous events taking place last year in York and Southampton. F-REPs are designed to foster collaboration, encouraging participants to share their expertise and develop strong working relationships with people who operate in the same sector but rarely have an opportunity to interact.

The Clyde event spotlighted opportunities for fishermen to play an active role in fisheries management and science, paving the way for a sustainable future for the historic fishing communities that have long defined the Clyde.

Highlighting the impact of the Fisheries Resource Education Programme (F-REP), Jake Hutchinson, a fisherman from Orkney who attended the Clyde edition last week remarked:

“It’s easy to jump in your boat and go to sea but it’s good to come here and open your eyes to what’s going on in the industry.”

Kenny MacNab, a Clyde Fisherman also enthused:

“It is so refreshing to come here with young guys all being more positive. If we’re going to have a future then we need to be positive and this is a good start.”

During a packed three-day agenda, attendees participated in a unique blend of hands-on, practical activities, group discussions, presentations led by industry experts and social events, including group dinners, a quiz night and the signature Industry-Science Mixer, which this time round included a Ceilidh, thanks to Fishing News.

Reflecting on the F-REP experience as a whole, David Stevens, Chair of Fishing into the Future said:

“The response from participants has been truly inspiring, everyone involved has been so welcoming and perspectives on each other’s roles in securing sustainable fisheries have shifted. Clyde has a great, resilient fishing community and everyone is leaving empowered with new knowledge and a sense that they can make a real difference in securing the future of the Clyde fishing industry.

“F-REP has two equally important parts. The first is the work during the day—creating a level playing field where everyone, from fishermen to scientists to policymakers, shares unique perspectives on the challenges we face and works toward innovative solutions. The second is what happens between sessions—sharing meals, enjoying conversations, and building relationships. Those moments foster trust and remind us we’re all on the same side. No other initiative offers such a positive, collaborative approach to tackling the challenges our industry faces.”

Elaine Whyte, Executive Secretary of Clyde Fishermen’s Association commented:

“We need to work collectively to ensure the future for our fishing industry. So often we can work in silos, but we need strategic direction and targets to move forward. Events like this help us to collaborate and define a shared vision for the future of the Clyde.”

Hannah Fennell, CEO of Orkney Fisheries Association reflected:

“F-REP got us thinking about how we continue these conversations, from conversations on the quayside to conversations enacting change, how change has happened elsewhere and how we share ideas.”

The Clyde event follows two over-subscribed F-REPs which took place in Southampton and York last year. Each event is tailored to specific local species, with the Clyde focusing on Nephrops, known commercially as prawns.

This is a pivotal moment for the Nephrops fishery, which is currently in the process of developing a Fisheries Management Plan (FMP). FMPs are species-specific roadmaps designed by the government in consultation with fishermen to balance healthy fish stocks, sustainable harvests, and the economic viability of fishing communities. These plans are evidence-based, relying on robust data collection to guide decision-making. They are also collaborative, ensuring fishermen have a voice in decisions that impact their livelihoods. F-REP seeks to connect both the science that informs these plans and the management decisions that will shape the future of the fishery, playing a key role in driving this collaboration and the ability to gather essential data.

The Clyde’s status as a major fishing hub was actually established not through Nephrops but through its once-thriving herring fishery. However the decline from the 1960’s in herring stocks prompted the introduction of strict EU quotas and seasonal closures aimed at recovery. Kenny MacNab and Ian Wightman, two fishermen with nearly a century of experience between them, reflected on this history during one of the first F-REP sessions. They shared how Clyde fishing communities adapted by diversifying to focus on abundant shellfish species. This session set the stage, highlighting how Clyde has adapted to past challenges and paving the way for discussions about securing a strong, lasting future for its fishing communities.

The remainder of the day spotlighted the critical role of scientific research in tackling fisheries challenges and driving solutions. One standout session got attendees actively involved, working in teams to conduct a mock Nephrops survey. Nephrops, a species notoriously tricky to assess, have become easier to study thanks to innovative tools like underwater TV cameras, which have transformed how we measure their distribution and abundance. The hands-on activity used toy trucks towing mobile phones on the floor to represent survey vessels towing cameras filming the seabed. By exploring how to conduct a survey and input data, all participants contributed to the survey design, working together to select their method, creating a more comprehensive understanding of stock health and supporting more informed, effective management decisions.

The second day of F-REP shifted focus from fisheries science to management, exploring how stock health and environmental sustainability can be balanced with the economic realities of fishing livelihoods. With the UK’s post-Brexit Joint Fisheries Policy championing “co-management”—a collaborative decision-making approach involving fishermen, policymakers, and scientists—participants explored how these principles could be applied in practice.

A key session, included at all F-REPs had attendees working in mixed groups to discuss the conditions needed for effective collaboration. These open, honest conversations mirror sessions held at previous F-REPs, which led to the creation of Fishing into the Future’s “Core Values for Working Together Effectively” guidance—eight principles now influencing the design of new fisheries policies. By continuing to run these sessions, F-REP is gathering fresh insights and ensuring the Core Values remain a living document that evolves with input from fishing communities across the country.

Putting these values into practice, attendees then participated in a hands-on role-playing session simulating a Nephrops Fisheries Management Plan (FMP) Working Group meeting. Participants in 5 groups role-played FMP leads, fishermen, fisherman’s family members, scientists and local government representatives.  Some groups came to agreements with cuts, budgets, quotas whilst others struggled to find agreement. The simulation gave attendees practical experience in collaborative decision-making, preparing them to engage effectively in future fisheries management efforts.

The final day centered on economics and seafood markets, featuring a presentation by Linda Wood, Aquaculture & Fisheries Manager at Marks & Spencer, Edward Whittle, Sustainability Director at Whitby Seafoods, and Jim Cowie, host of the Seafood Matters Podcast. A key takeaway from the discussions was the growing market value of scientifically-backed sustainable fishing practices. With many UK seafood buyers committed to sourcing from sustainably certified fisheries, adopting robust management methods can boost the value of the catch.

For Nephrops, progress toward sustainability is already well underway. After several years in a Marine Stewardship Council-backed Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) under the Project UK umbrella, this fishery is on a promising path. In 2023/24 alone, an estimated £2.8 million was spent by consumers on MSC-certified Nephrops across eight countries. This underscores a compelling opportunity for Clyde fishermen to engage further in these sustainability efforts, unlocking both environmental and economic benefits.

Fishing into the Future is preparing for the next F-REP event, taking place in the south-west at the end of March. The focus of this F-REP will be on handline, rod and line, fixed nets and some trawls, centred on pollock, bass, tuna and small eye ray.