GovWire

Guidance: Regional Fisheries Groups

Marine Management Organisation

July 25
14:37 2023

There are five Regional Fisheries Groups:

Below you can find more information on RFGs, including the dates of our next meetings and the notes from previous meetings, relevant to each region.

Contact Details

If you would like to attend a Regional Fisheries Group meeting, comment on previous minutes or contribute in any other way please contact the MMO Regional fisheries Mailbox: regionalfisheriesgroups@marinemanagement.org.uk

Newsletter

Summer 2023 edition

RFG Newsletters Summer 2023

Winter 2022 edition

RFG Newsletter Winter 2022

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email communications@marinemanagement.org.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Autumn 2022 edition

RFG Newsletter Autumn 2022

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email communications@marinemanagement.org.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Where did RFGs originate?

These groups exist to give local fishers a chance to be part of the decision-making process for managing fisheries and share their expertise.

In December 2020, Defra and the MMO organised a workshop for the inshore fishing fleet. The aim of the workshop was to foster collaborative working and address regionally specific issues.

Participants at the workshop discussed cross-sector working, identified priorities, and shared their preferences for local areas. By the end of the meeting, there was agreement on the concept of Regional Fisheries Groups and the approach.

Aim of the RFGs

Our aim is to give a formal route for fishers to share their views and experience in decisions affecting their livelihoods. We want to build stronger working relationships between people who regulate the industry and the fishing community. By doing this, everyone involved in fisheries management can have a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by the fishing industry regionally.

RFGs will do this by

  • Providing a formal method of engagement predominantly for inshore fishers and others who may feel they are not represented by a wider national group.
  • Building more collaborative and trusting working relationships between policy makers, regulators, and the fishing sector at a regional level, and recognising the knowledge they hold.
  • Giving industry an active role in regional fisheries management decision making and provide an opportunity for them to influence regional decisions.
  • Working together to better understand the challenges and opportunities facing the industry at a regional level so the government can help them to take advantage of opportunities for the future of the industry.

Engagement

  • Formal meetings are held up to three times a year.
  • The RFG team visit ports and fishing locations in person encouraging one to one conversations with fishers.
  • The RFG team is available during the working hours of 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday to answer calls, texts or emails.

If youre interested in attending an RFG meeting or contributing in any other way, contact the team at: regionalfisheriesgroups@marinemanagement.org.uk

Lyme Bay - Anonymously report lost or damaged gear

Please use this anonymous reporting form for lost or damaged gear within Lyme Bay ICES Rectangles 30E6 and 30E7 inside 12nm

In May and June 2023 aconsultation and workshop were help to discuss potential new management measures for the sole fishery in Lyme Bay. One of the outcomes of the workshop was the development of this form which will help feed into a data gap on gear loss and damage in Lyme Bay.

The data collected from this form will directly feed into a meeting on the potential for temporary spatial separation between gear types in early 2024. At this meeting, the industry will be asked to decide whether they would like any measures implementing, and whether these would be voluntary.

Lyme Bay Code of Conduct

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has responded to concerns from fishermen that an increase in sole quota has led to conflict and potentially overfishing in Lyme Bay.

The MMO and Inshore Fisheries Conservation Authorities (IFCA) have been investigating the issue and have created a steering group to oversee the investigation. The Steering group includes representative fishers from the Lyme Bay Community Interest Company, and other ports outside of Lym

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