Introduction to Fisheries Management Plans
The Fisheries Act 2020 marked a significant moment for the UK as an independent coastal state, providing a framework for the future of fisheries management. Central to this framework is the Joint Fisheries Statement (JFS), guiding the direction of UK fisheries management. Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) emerged as the key mechanism for translating the JFS into action, by setting out roadmaps for the sustainable management of specific UK fisheries.
These plans support government goals for sustainable stocks, a healthy marine environment, and a thriving fishing sector. While FMPs do not lay out legislative requirements directly, achieving their goals may involve the introduction of new regulations and technical measures, alongside non-statutory measures such as voluntary agreements and collaborative research plans.
All published FMPs also lay out steps for improvements to data collection and evidence gathering, to help contribute to more informed management measures. Such steps include consolidation of data sources, defining stock boundaries, improving stock assessments, and researching stock structure and recruitment.
Following extensive stakeholder engagement and in collaboration with the fishing industry, the first five FMPs were published by Defra on 14 December 2023.
Where we are in the FMP process
Several delivery partners, including both regulatory bodies and multi-stakeholder forums, were selected by Defra to lead the development of individual FMPs, with each FMP piloting a different development approach. All plans share the key principles of promoting industry engagement, filling key evidence gaps, and outlining actions for keeping stocks at sustainable levels, or restoring them to sustainable levels where needed. Each FMP also incorporates wider environmental and social considerations mandated by the Fisheries Act 2020, including driving socio-economic benefits for communities, minimising bycatch, and adopting an ecosystem-based approach to management.
For more information about the development of FMPs, read our policy brief, which synthesises key discussions from the APPG on Fisheries event “The Future of UK Fisheries Management”, held on 24 May 2023.
The first five published FMPs are as follows:
The decision to prioritise these fisheries as the first set of FMPs was related to the reported vulnerability of the stocks to overexploitation, their economic value, and the lack of sufficient evidence for proper assessment and monitoring. Each fishery holds cultural, social, and economic significance for coastal communities. These FMPs collectively aim to address evidence gaps and ensure the long-term sustainable management of the stocks.
Bass Fisheries Management Plan
The Bass FMP aims to ensure the sustainability and flexibility of sea bass fishing through improved management measures in England and Wales. Short-term proposals in the plan include:
Establishment of multi-stakeholder bass management groups
Exploring opportunities for adaptive management systems
Measures to monitor and reduce discards
Measures to reduce bycatch of sensitive species.
Longer-term actions include:
Reviewing appropriate size limits and harvest strategies
Promoting Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM)
Supporting industry decarbonisation
Improving sector equality.
Channel Demersal Non-Quota Species Fisheries Management Plan
The Channel Demersal Non-Quota Species (CDNQS) FMP aims for the sustainable management of various bony fish, elasmobranch, and cephalopod species in the English waters of the English Channel, and sets out policies and actions to manage the fisheries in the Channel.
Proposed management measures include:
Limiting future flyseining effort, such as through changes to mesh size, engine power, and REM technologies
Introducing Minimum Conservation Reference Sizes (MCRS) for lemon sole, turbot and brill
Gathering options for towed gear management measures
An action plan for the cuttlefish fishery
Monitoring and researching octopus catches.
Crab and Lobster Fisheries Management Plan
The Crab and Lobster FMP integrates a long-term vision for achieving maximum sustainable yield (MSY) with immediate measures for crab and lobster management. Short-term actions in this FMP encompass:
Harmonising lobster and crawfish MCRSs with existing Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (IFCA) measures
Prohibiting the landing of soft brown crab for bait
Piloting finer-scale management based on geographically relevant scales rather than administrative boundaries.
In the long term, the plan suggests an adaptive and iterative management approach, considering the collaborative development of targeted measures like seasonal closures, effort controls, and pot and catch limits.
King Scallop Fisheries Management Plan
The King Scallop FMP aims to achieve the fully sustainable exploitation of king scallop stocks in English and Welsh waters. Short-term actions suggest:
Strengthening existing measures to increase stock protection
Potentially aligning measures across management borders.
In the long term, the plan aims to develop an overarching management framework to limit fishing effort, and review existing measures to ensure they are fit for purpose.
Whelk Fisheries Management Plan
The Whelk FMP focuses on regional-based management in England, with harmonisation across jurisdictional boundaries to ensure long-term sustainability of whelk. Short-term measures include:
The introduction of a permit scheme or licence entitlement
Consideration of MCRS variations, pot limits, and seasonal closures.
Long-term strategies involve an adaptive and iterative management approach, exploring gear design measures, and considering the implementation of catch limits.
Looking ahead for FMPs
A sixth FMP, focusing on Southern North Sea and Eastern Channel Mixed Flatfish, also underwent stakeholder consultation in summer 2023. Due to the volume of responses and engagement, this FMP is still in progress and will be published later in 2024.
In autumn 2023, Defra announced the next five FMPs to be developed in 2024: Cockles, North Sea and Channel Sprat, Southern North Sea and Channel Skates and Rays, Queen Scallop, and Southern North Sea Demersal Non-Quota Species. To find out more about these FMPs, the stocks covered, who is preparing them, and how to contribute, watch this Defra webinar.
Designed to be dynamic, FMPs will be reviewed at least every six years to adapt to feedback and align with environmental and socio-economic changes. The JFS lays out plans and a timeline for a total of 43 FMPs to be published by 2028.