MMO’s Evidence and Evaluation Team are leading engagement for the Celtic Sea and Western Channel Pelagic FMP, a joint plan between Defra and the Welsh Government due for publication in 2025. This plan covers herring, pilchard, greater silver smelt, horse mackerel and anchovy within ICES areas 7e, 7f, 7g, 7h (Welsh and English waters only).
The MMO team will be forming a partnership to draw on the expertise of stakeholders to develop the plan, including fishers. They are looking for people that can represent their sector (by port, gear, or Fisherman’s Association) as a partnership member. This would involve roughly 3-4 in-person meetings where you would be contributing to the development of management measures and contributing your knowledge about this fishery at key stages of the FMP’s development. Meetings will be held in the afternoon/evening, and you can expect them to last between 2-4 hours.
If you don’t want to be in the partnership but think there is someone from your community that would represent your interests, perspectives, and concerns well instead, you can let the team know using the below email address and they will contact them on your behalf. Outside of the partnership, members of the MMO team will be joining RFG port visits throughout the year to come and talk to you and sending out email updates at key stages of the FMP’s development.
You can email the MMO team leading the engagement at: cswcpelagicfmp@marinemanagement.org.uk or let them know if you would prefer a phone call and they will arrange this.