A fishing boat leaves Whitby Harbour, Yorkshire, UK.
Photo: Adobe Stock.
A new study has exposed a worrying trend for the UK's fishing industry and the communities it supports, showing that the country's fishing fleet is shrinking, with small-scale coastal fisheries particularly at risk.
The study, led by the UK's Marine Biological Association and authored by a group of 19 experts, including marine scientists, environmental advocates, and policymakers, urges the UK government to make full use of the 2020 Fisheries Act to safeguard what it describes as a “national asset.”
“This is about much more than fish – it’s about people, places, and policies," said Dr Bryce Stewart, a marine ecologist and Senior Research Fellow at the Marine Biological Association (MBA), in a news announcement.
"The loss of local fisheries means the erosion of coastal identities, jobs, food security, and marine stewardship. But this is reversible, and the Fisheries Act gives us the tools if we choose to use them," Stewart added.
The study outlines eight key national benefits of sustainable fisheries, ranging from providing food and rural employment to supporting biodiversity and cultural heritage.
However, the research, based on long-term analysis of UK fisheries data, also reveals a sharp and ongoing decline in the number of fishing vessels - particularly those under 10 metres in length - which the authors say marks "a growing imbalance that disproportionately affects rural and economically vulnerable coastal regions".
As with fishing communities in other countries, the lack of young people entering the industry is another significant problem. “The greying of the fleet is a serious warning sign. We’re not just losing boats - we’re losing generational knowledge, resilience, and the very social fabric that connects many of our communities to the sea," Stewart said.
Lead author Dr Sarah Coulthard of Newcastle University pointed out the research supports what many within the fishing industry already know. “This new analysis confirms that which fishermen know only too well, that the fishing fleet is in decline across the whole UK. However, it also highlights that the decline is being unevenly felt with regional and sector disparity.”
“New conversations are required now to discuss retaining a diverse and resilient fishing fleet by securing our inshore and small-scale fisheries and the wide distribution of benefits they deliver across our coastline," Coulthard added.
The authors recommend a series of policy changes aimed at revitalising the UK’s fisheries and supporting coastal communities. Central to their proposal is a broader interpretation of sustainability - one that places equal emphasis on environmental health, economic viability, and social well-being.
The study authors also advocate for empowering local communities through co-management structures that involve fishers directly in decision-making processes, and for recognising the public goods generated by healthy fisheries, such as biodiversity and food security. This would allow for the application of “public money for public goods” principles within the marine sector, they argue.
The report also stresses the need to improve data collection and increase the visibility of small-scale fisheries to ensure they are appropriately reflected in national strategies and policy development.
“If we want future generations to enjoy healthy seas, sustainable seafood, and thriving coastal towns, we must take the decline in the under 10 metre fishing fleet seriously,” said co-author Sam Fanshawe from the Blue Marine Foundation.
“Policymakers have a real chance to steer fisheries policy and investment towards supporting local fishing communities and small-scale fishermen, who know firsthand the value of looking after inshore fishing grounds and stocks for their own livelihoods, as well as the health of our seas," Fanshawe added.
The full paper, Recognising and Protecting the National Benefit of Sustainable Fisheries in the UK, is published with open access in the April issue of the academic journal Fish and Fisheries.
