nifca news spring 2026
event photos captured by Oli Loveday
A Shared Commitment from Coastal Communities to Secure the Long-term Future of Small-scale Fisheries
The Authority attended the National Symposium for Inshore and Small-scale Fisheries in Newcastle this February, marking the first major event organised by the Inshore and Small-scale Fisheries (ISSF) Consortium. The two-day symposium brought together around 120 delegates from across the English coastline, including fishermen, fisheries representatives, scientists, NGOs and regulators such as IFCAs, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture (Cefas). Notably, around 50 attendees were fishermen, ensuring that those working at the heart of the industry were well represented in discussions. Building on earlier workshops held in Poole and Whitby in 2024, the symposium focused on turning discussion into action. The aim was clear: to develop practical, workable solutions to the key challenges facing inshore and small-scale fisheries. Seven priority areas, which were identified during the 2024 workshops, formed the backbone of the event. These included strengthening the voice of inshore fishermen, improving the regulation of shared marine space, ensuring health and safety measures reflect the realities of fishing, and improving public understanding of the industry.
Other priorities focused on increasing access to funding, supporting diversification, and encouraging training and recruitment into fishing careers. A key strength of the symposium was its collaborative approach. Participants were placed into mixed groups, bringing together different perspectives and expertise. This created open, constructive discussions that moved beyond identifying problems and towards shaping realistic solutions. Ideas and recommendations from each group were carefully recorded and shared across the wider event. NIFCA Chief Officer Mark Southerton and Environmental IFCO, Vicky Rae attended the event. Vicky said: “The symposium marked another important step forward, helping to build a shared understanding of the challenges ahead and a collective drive to support the long-term future of inshore and small-scale fisheries. “A consistent message throughout the session was that meaningful progress will depend on continued collaboration. Delivering real change will require commitment from across the sector, from fishermen and regulators to policymakers and scientists.”
LEARN MORE ABOUT SUPPORT FOR SMALL SCALE FISHERIES
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