The Socio-Economics of UK Fisheries and Marine Biodiversity

In a recent study to identify areas to strengthen the response of UK marine NGOs for marine conservation it was recognised that a wide array of data on socio-economic issues in the fisheries sector existed but that this it was not being used very effectively by the NGOs. In part this problem reflects the accessibility of socio-economic knowledge. However, it also reflects the attitudes and skills of NGO staff to the uptake and use of such knowledge. Where there is a lack of socio-economic understanding it can adversely affect the quality of the strategies which NGOs adopt to promote sustainable fishing practices.

The better application of existing and new socio-economic knowledge has the potential to inform the debate around fisheries and marine biodiversity and help to achieve a better balance between social, economic and environmental concerns. To achieve this potential the right amount of socio-economic information about the right issues, needs to be available to NGOs in the right form so that they are willing and able to use that knowledge to increase their effectiveness in delivering sustainable impacts.  

The Review

IMM Ltd. have been asked by the Tubney Charitable Trust (UK) to support their efforts to help UK NGOs to become more effective in delivering their services in support more sustainable fishing practice. To this end, IMM Ltd. are currently undertaking a review of how UK NGOs utilise socio-economic information to inform their strategies and actions. The review is focused around three tasks:

1.  A basic review of current knowledge of the socio-economic impacts of fisheries management and policy designed to achieve biodiversity conservation. 

2.  An assessment of the applicability and usefulness of the current knowledge to NGOs seeking to achieve biodiversity benefit in UK waters. 

3.  Identification and prioritisation further research needs and opportunities to develop models of sustainable fisheries delivering biodiversity benefits appropriate within the context of UK Waters.

The work will be undertaken between September 2009 and March 2010.