Project UK boosts sustainable fisheries

Over the past seven years, this initiative has united more than 101 organisations, including major retailers like Tesco and Sainsbury’s, seafood businesses and environmental groups, to transform fisheries practices nationwide.

“We’ve been involved in Project UK from day one because this journey of step-by-step improvement, and ultimately the ideal of reaching a certified product, is absolutely essential to the Scottish fleet - as stewards of the resource and as a constellation of seafood businesses,” said Mike Park, OBE, the chief executive of the Scottish Fisheries Sustainable Accreditation Group.

The Project UK Summary Report 2024 has focused on six key fisheries, including king scallops, monkfish and Nephrops, which together contribute an estimated £177 million to the UK economy. Through dedicated efforts, nearly £1.5 million has been raised to fund various research projects and develop essential tools for fishers to identify endangered species.

Notable achievements include the Crab and Lobster fishery improvement project (FIP), which held workshops to inform national fisheries management plans. The Nephrops FIP has also made significant progress, with a recent study examining the impacts of trawling on seabed habitats, highlighting the need for more research on sensitive ecosystems.

“Brown crab and lobster has long been ‘the poor relation’ in terms of national policy and the FIP has certainly contributed to highlighting the importance of both species,” said Beshlie Poole from the South Devon and Channel Shellfishermen’s Association.

“Project UK has been incredible and innovative in terms of engaging with our fleet in ways which work for them - a rare approach - which has gone a long way toward restoring faith that people who talk about management are also able to listen.”

In the future Project UK aims to launch a third round of improvement projects, targeting fisheries such as south west turbot and east coast crab and Scottish sprat.