Scottish Inshore Fisheries Integrated Data System (SIFIDS): work package 7 final report engagement with inshore fisheries to promote and inform

Abstract

[Extract from Executive Summary] This report documents Work Package 7 of the Scottish Inshore Fisheries Integrated Data Systems (SIFIDS) Project, which was designed to facilitate engagement with the key stakeholders including; inshore fishers, their representative bodies, Regional Inshore Fisheries Groups, Marine Scotland including Policy, Compliance and Science.

The SIFIDS Project focused on 12 metre and under inshore fisheries vessels, of which around 1,500 are registered in Scotland including those that work part-time or seasonally. The facilitation team was set various targets for engagement based on the requirements of other work packages. The success of the overall project was dependent to a significant extent on securing voluntary engagement and input from working fishers. Previous experience has shown that having a dedicated project facilitation team is an extremely effective model for establishing the necessary trust to encourage industry-participation in projects such as this.

The WP7 facilitation team comprised three individuals who have significant marine and fisheries related experience and wide-ranging skills in communications and stakeholder engagement. They worked together flexibly on a part-time basis, ensuring staffing cover over extended hours where required to match fishers’ availability and geographical coverage over Scotland.