Publication Abstract

Sustainable commercial fishing makes valuable contributions to coastal regions and broader national benefits. This paper offers three arguments in relation to what is required for the societal benefits of sustainable fisheries to be fully realised and considers each in the context of the UK, but with global relevance. First, there is a need to raise the profile of the full range of benefits that are delivered through sustainable fisheries to coastal communities and the broader public. In the UK, the delivery of a ‘National Benefit’ objective through fisheries is now enshrined in law by the Fisheries Act, 2020; we operationalise this through a new framing that distils eight ‘national benefits’ that all sustainable fisheries should deliver. Second, better acknowledgement of what society gains from Fish and Fisheries For Review Only sustainable fisheries must be paralleled with recognition of what society is simultaneously at risk of losing through the decline of the fishing fleet. We detail this decline in a new analysis of long-term UK data which highlights that the decline is unequally felt, with some regions of the UK, and small-scale fishing sectors, experiencing loss more acutely. This reality leads us to argue a third point, that if society is to retain and truly harness the benefits which flow from sustainable fisheries, governing bodies must act quickly to ensure fisheries are environmentally sustainable, diverse, and inclusive, pursuing fisheries that ‘leave no one behind’. 

Coulthard, Sarah; Newcastle University, Hatt , Ainsley; Newcastle University Lewis, Phoebe; Newcastle University Stewart, Bryce; The Marine Biological Association Roach , Michael ; National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations Clark, Robert; Association of Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities AIFCA Fanshawe, Sam ; Blue Marine Foundation *White, Carole; University of East Anglia/Centre for Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Urquhart, Julie; Countryside & Community Research Institute, University of Gloucestershire Percy, Jerry; National Under 10s Fishermen’s Association (NUTFA) Gray, Tim; Newcastle University Bulled, Emily; Blue marine foundation Richards, Joe; Blue Marine Foundation, UK PROJECT TEAM Turner, Rachel; University of Exeter, Environment and Sustainability Institute; University of Exeter Baker, Edward; Plymouth Fishing and Seafood Association, Evans, Louisa; University of Exeter, Hooper, Tom; Fishtek Chaigneau, Tom; University of Exeter, Longsden, Jack; Natural England Anbleyth-evans, Jeremy; University of Aberdeen 

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