Published:
A Heriot-Watt academic will lead a conference together with fisherman across the UK to discuss issues around the management of inshore fisheries and to establish a blueprint for their future management.
The Future of Our Inshore Fisheries Conference – which is to take place in London on 8-9 October – was announced at a specially convened workshop today at which members of the Future of Our Inshore Fisheries steering group met with representatives from the inshore industry, government and science community.
Attendees at the workshop – supported by Seafish, the public body that supports the £10bn UK seafood industry – heard steering group chair Professor Michel Kaiser announce the conference and call for industry to engage on this important initiative.
Professor Michel Kaiser said: “The Future of Our Inshore Fisheries is an ambitious project that looks to transform how we manage these important resources over the medium to long-term, so that we can ensure that our fisheries, our marine environment and our coastal communities are sustainable and thriving.
“There are no quick wins here so it is vital that we take the time to understand the issues and challenges that currently exist so that we can build awareness, understanding and consensus amongst all the parties involved in the management of this important marine resource.
“A key focus of the October conference will be to bring all interested parties together, whether that's small scale fishermen, regulators, the environmental community and researchers, to help shape the blueprint for future management. By working together from the outset we hope to lay the foundations for future collaborative working.”
Registrations for the event are open now.