FUTURE-PROOFING PELAGIC FISHING: PRIORITIES FOR 2025

Future-Proofing Pelagic Fishing: Priorities for 2025

By Phil Haslam, Managing Director, North Atlantic Fishing Company.

Pelagic fishing accounts for 60% of UK landings, making it a vital part of the fishing industry. We need to secure its future and to do so the sector is driving positive change – adapting to evolving regulations, embracing new technologies, and working closely with Governments and Regulators to shape a sustainable path forward. By introducing advanced systems, using data to inform decision-making and working with partners and stakeholders, pelagic fisheries can secure healthy fish stocks, maintain market stability, and safeguard the livelihoods of those who depend on this sector.

Several key areas will shape the industry in the coming year. Addressing these challenges proactively together can open the door for positive change.

North Atlantic Fishing Company’s vessel, Frank Bonefaas

Strengthening Fisheries with Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM)

The rollout of Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) is accelerating and is set to play a pivotal role in the pelagic fishing industry, driven by technological advancements, regulatory requirements, and government mandates. North Atlantic Fishing Company’s vessel, Frank Bonefaas, recently became the first pelagic freezer trawler to trial REM in English waters as part of a Defra led trial. As a responsible fishing business, we welcome the additional transparency and the ability to demonstrate our practices to help counter some of the more alarmist rhetoric surrounding our operations.

As Scotland’s new legislation requires all vessels to have REM by September 2025, leading to full compliance by April 2026, the industry is adapting swiftly. Beyond meeting legal obligations, REM technology enhances catch verification, supports scientific data collection, and reinforces industry transparency – critical for maintaining trust with regulators, markets, and consumers – all essential for proving our commitment to responsible fisheries management.

Managing Space at Sea

Access to fishing grounds and room to manoeuvre at sea is an increasing challenge for the pelagic fishing industry. The competition for sea space continues to intensify due to the expansion of marine protected areas (MPAs), offshore energy developments, aggregate extractions and undersea cable routes. All these factors reduce access to the traditional fishing grounds utilised by the industry as well as causing displacement of fishing effort. A farmer will struggle to maintain productivity if the land in use continually retracts, the same is true for fishing businesses. Restrictions in key areas are already impacting catch efficiency for vital species like mackerel and herring, adding operational and economic pressure to the fleet.

While conservation, environmental initiatives, and renewable energy zones serve important goals, rigid spatial planning fails to account for the migratory nature of fish stocks. These projects can make static boundaries that are impractical for sustainable fishing practices. Therefore, the fishing industry must be engaged in marine planning discussions from the outset to ensure a balance between food production from the sea, conservation, and offshore development needs. Maintaining access to key fishing grounds will be a central focus to enable the catching sector to play its part in assuring food security for the UK and beyond.

Attracting the Next Generation

Recruiting and retaining new talent and skilled crews remains a critical challenge. However, there is significant untapped potential, with an estimated 13.4% of people aged 16 to 24 in the UK not in education, training, or employment. Encouraging individuals to consider a career in fishing could help bridge this gap and strengthen the industry’s workforce. In the maritime sector, employees under 30 comprise only 14% of the workforce, while those over the age of 50 account for nearly 40%. The industry must take a structured approach to workforce development, actively promoting the diverse career opportunities available within pelagic fishing to young people and those considering a career change.

Modern pelagic fishing is highly technical and data-driven, requiring STEM skills, expertise in data analysis, and proficiency in evolving marine technology – yet career pathways remain unclear for many potential recruits. The industry must do more to showcase the advanced skill set required and acquire talent, positioning pelagic fishing as a high-tech, professional career sector with clear progression opportunities. In the engineering sector across various industries, apprenticeships are utilised to draw in the younger demographic with paid experience and exposure to the roles. Alternatively, many trade employers reach out directly to educational facilities to run workshops and provide insight into the diversity of roles. We all have a role to play in encouraging new talent to enter the industry. Promoting the benefits will be essential for attracting the new generation of fishing professionals to ensure the sector’s long-term resilience.

Advancing Fisheries Science

Continuing to support scientific research remains integral to responsible pelagic fisheries management. Collaboration between the fishing industry and researchers is central to sustainable practices and ensures that management strategies are built on real-time data.

Our pelagic vessels routinely support scientific studies – hosting researchers onboard and contributing through self-sampling initiatives and catch data. Onboard quality managers collect data on every trip through this process, which is then shared with Cefas, the Pelagic Freezer Trawler Association (PFA), and ICES, shaping stock assessments and sustainable quotas. The self-sampling process provides insight into catch compositions. More information on the use of sampling can be found here.

Strengthening these industry-science partnerships not only supports accurate fisheries science but is also essential to better inform fisheries management decision-making, helping to maintain healthy fish stocks, continuously shape sustainable management, and safeguard the future of pelagic stocks.

Safeguarding Fish Stocks with Effective TACs

As always, ensuring the sustainability of fish stocks remains one of the top priorities for the pelagic fishing industry. For 2025, ICES has recommended reducing Total Allowable Catches (TACs) for key species, including mackerel, herring, and blue whiting, to ensure long-term stock viability and to safeguard stock stability.

While TAC reductions pose short-term challenges for the industry, they are critical in protecting marine ecosystems and sustaining livelihoods. Maintaining a healthy marine ecosystem is fundamental to both the industry’s long-term success and its ability to supply markets sustainably whilst preserving biodiversity.

Looking Ahead

To navigate 2025 successfully, pelagic fishing businesses must stay ahead of regulatory changes, adopt technological advancements, and continue engaging with policymakers, scientists, and markets. By embracing key trends and integrating responsible practices, we can safeguard key fish stocks while ensuring the long-term commercial viability of our sector for generations to come.

Balancing innovation with effective fisheries management will be key to long-term resource stability and securing the industry’s future. Through adaptability, collaboration, and sound management, the pelagic fishing industry can maintain its strength, delivering value for businesses, consumers, and the fishing communities it supports while ensuring food security. Encouragingly, at the recent NFFO Reception at the Houses of Parliament, the coastal MPs recognised that the fishing sector must have a stronger voice in marine and maritime development decisions. As the Minister acknowledged, fishing is critical for national food security and must be included at the top table from the outset.

While these are positive signals, the industry must remain engaged to ensure these commitments translate into meaningful action that secures a sustainable future for UK pelagic fishing.