Project Details
Description
Geography of Inshore Fishing and Sustainability (GIFS) was a project co-funded by the Interreg IVa 2 Seas programme which ran between January 2012 and September 2014 aiming to understand the socio-economic and cultural importance of inshore fishing to better inform fisheries policy, coastal regeneration strategies and sustainable community development.
The project was a result from the collaboration of six partners from four European countries bordering the Southern North Sea and English Channel (University of Greenwich (lead), University of Brighton, Universite de Bretagne Occidentale, AGROCAMPUS, Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) and Municipality of Middelburg.
The research was divided into themes, to obtain a better understanding of the relation between inshore fishing and the community:
Coastal zone governance and inshore fishing
Fishing places and community
Fishing activity past and present
Economy and regeneration in fishing communities
Two case studies were performed: one in Arnemuiden, with the investment in and regeneration of the fishing heritage, and another in Hastings, where the influence of the fishing community on political decision-making was reconstructed.
University of Brighton led the Hastings case study, and were key partners on the delivery of the coastal zone governance and inshore fishing as well as economy and regeneration in fishing communities work packages.
The University of Brighton and GIFS partners worked with the Hastings fishing community and fishery partnerships to understand the different ways - social, economic, cultural and environmental - that Inshore Fisheries (IF) contribute to the sustainability of their town and community.
This collaboration has been enabled by the GIFS project. Each of the methods in the diagram below were developed by a GIFS partner and applied in Hastings in collaboration with the local fishing community (via Hastings Fishermans Protection Society and the Hastings FLAG and key stakeholders (Natural England, Sussex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority and Hastings Borough Council).
The project was a result from the collaboration of six partners from four European countries bordering the Southern North Sea and English Channel (University of Greenwich (lead), University of Brighton, Universite de Bretagne Occidentale, AGROCAMPUS, Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) and Municipality of Middelburg.
The research was divided into themes, to obtain a better understanding of the relation between inshore fishing and the community:
Coastal zone governance and inshore fishing
Fishing places and community
Fishing activity past and present
Economy and regeneration in fishing communities
Two case studies were performed: one in Arnemuiden, with the investment in and regeneration of the fishing heritage, and another in Hastings, where the influence of the fishing community on political decision-making was reconstructed.
University of Brighton led the Hastings case study, and were key partners on the delivery of the coastal zone governance and inshore fishing as well as economy and regeneration in fishing communities work packages.
The University of Brighton and GIFS partners worked with the Hastings fishing community and fishery partnerships to understand the different ways - social, economic, cultural and environmental - that Inshore Fisheries (IF) contribute to the sustainability of their town and community.
This collaboration has been enabled by the GIFS project. Each of the methods in the diagram below were developed by a GIFS partner and applied in Hastings in collaboration with the local fishing community (via Hastings Fishermans Protection Society and the Hastings FLAG and key stakeholders (Natural England, Sussex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority and Hastings Borough Council).
Key findings
Headline findings in the GIFS Toolkit to inform our coastal/marine development planning:
> The tourism spend in Hastings associated with its fishing identity is estimated at 8.5 million Euros (See p54-55)
> Respondents in England (inc Hastings) felt small-scale fisheries make a central contribution to sense of place (inc. place attachment, identity and dependence) (See p73); as well as informing our community shared values about the marine environment (See p63).
> The fleet in Hastings make a unique contribution to cultural services valued by visitors and residents via their role in responsible tourism and enriched whole community education provision (See p101-105 for key education principles, education model/approach development and model testing features)
> Hastings fishers have worked with marine and conservation authorities and universities to improve the quality of local scientific marine data capture and knowledge sharing (See p106).
> Eight detailed fishing community case studies shows fisheries like Hastings must seek out innovative solutions to overcome serious challenges to the integration of small scale fisheries voice, knowledge, values and needs within marine and coastal development governance and planning.
The central output from the University of Brighton work on GIFS was enabling and facilitating fishing community-University co-design and collaboration in research delivery. The Hastings fishing community and fishery partnerships worked with the University of Brighton and other GIFS partners to understand the different ways - social, economic, cultural and environmental - that Inshore Fisheries (IF) contribute to the sustainability of their town and community.
Applying and developing so many of the GIFS methods in Hastings in collaboration with the local fishing community (via Hastings Fishermans Protection Society and the Hastings FLAG (Fisheries Local Action Group)) and key stakeholders (Natural England, Sussex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority and Hastings Borough Council) has created new reasons for these organisations to work together to better understand and support IF.
Fishing community members took an active and central role in research project partner meetings across the region, research fieldwork exercises and workshops, dissemination of research findings to multiple audiences, and were integral to identifying the focus and scope of research pilot activity.
Community support, co-design and/or delivery of the research methods was paramount to the success of the project and the value and relevance of data captured for the fishery. Working in a collaborative way helped to further mainstream the value of local fishing community knowledge in identifying research needs and in enabling the context sensitive use of these research methods. It encouraged a more inclusive data collection approach and locally informed data set, as well as enabling a positive knowledge exchange between the different parties to improve future monitoring and marine/ coastal planning. This process helped build capacity within both the university research team and fishing community stakeholders through the development of portable research tools; and the research project experience, knowledge and skills needed for fishing and scientific communities to work together successfully in an equitable and collaborative way.
This experience and the research tools were then used as part of a range of knowledge exchange projects the University is working on with stakeholders such as Natural England, Marine Management Organisation, Hastings Borough Council and Big Local North East Hastings to support marine planning, coastal community development and measuring different aspects of fishing community contribution to the town.
In addition, co-produced alternative education resources were devised by the Hastings fishers, the local council, the University and local educators. These are now used by fishers and the local Hastings Fishing Protection Society to augment their education activities in schools and further develop an alternative income stream for fishers.
The research project experience, knowledge and skills needed for fishing and scientific communities to work together successfully in an equitable and collaborative way have transferred into other policy spheres in particular urban regeneration. The local Hastings Borough Council then sought to develop a stronger maritime dimension to urban regeneration policy. In order to identify the details of this maritime dimension the local council convened a conference co-hosted and chaired by the University in October 2014 that was attended by local fishers, national level policy organisations (such as South East Local Entreprise Partnership, MMO, Defra, NUTFA and Natural England) and a range of local regeneration stakeholders.
Outputs
> The tourism spend in Hastings associated with its fishing identity is estimated at 8.5 million Euros (See p54-55)
> Respondents in England (inc Hastings) felt small-scale fisheries make a central contribution to sense of place (inc. place attachment, identity and dependence) (See p73); as well as informing our community shared values about the marine environment (See p63).
> The fleet in Hastings make a unique contribution to cultural services valued by visitors and residents via their role in responsible tourism and enriched whole community education provision (See p101-105 for key education principles, education model/approach development and model testing features)
> Hastings fishers have worked with marine and conservation authorities and universities to improve the quality of local scientific marine data capture and knowledge sharing (See p106).
> Eight detailed fishing community case studies shows fisheries like Hastings must seek out innovative solutions to overcome serious challenges to the integration of small scale fisheries voice, knowledge, values and needs within marine and coastal development governance and planning.
The central output from the University of Brighton work on GIFS was enabling and facilitating fishing community-University co-design and collaboration in research delivery. The Hastings fishing community and fishery partnerships worked with the University of Brighton and other GIFS partners to understand the different ways - social, economic, cultural and environmental - that Inshore Fisheries (IF) contribute to the sustainability of their town and community.
Applying and developing so many of the GIFS methods in Hastings in collaboration with the local fishing community (via Hastings Fishermans Protection Society and the Hastings FLAG (Fisheries Local Action Group)) and key stakeholders (Natural England, Sussex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority and Hastings Borough Council) has created new reasons for these organisations to work together to better understand and support IF.
Fishing community members took an active and central role in research project partner meetings across the region, research fieldwork exercises and workshops, dissemination of research findings to multiple audiences, and were integral to identifying the focus and scope of research pilot activity.
Community support, co-design and/or delivery of the research methods was paramount to the success of the project and the value and relevance of data captured for the fishery. Working in a collaborative way helped to further mainstream the value of local fishing community knowledge in identifying research needs and in enabling the context sensitive use of these research methods. It encouraged a more inclusive data collection approach and locally informed data set, as well as enabling a positive knowledge exchange between the different parties to improve future monitoring and marine/ coastal planning. This process helped build capacity within both the university research team and fishing community stakeholders through the development of portable research tools; and the research project experience, knowledge and skills needed for fishing and scientific communities to work together successfully in an equitable and collaborative way.
This experience and the research tools were then used as part of a range of knowledge exchange projects the University is working on with stakeholders such as Natural England, Marine Management Organisation, Hastings Borough Council and Big Local North East Hastings to support marine planning, coastal community development and measuring different aspects of fishing community contribution to the town.
In addition, co-produced alternative education resources were devised by the Hastings fishers, the local council, the University and local educators. These are now used by fishers and the local Hastings Fishing Protection Society to augment their education activities in schools and further develop an alternative income stream for fishers.
The research project experience, knowledge and skills needed for fishing and scientific communities to work together successfully in an equitable and collaborative way have transferred into other policy spheres in particular urban regeneration. The local Hastings Borough Council then sought to develop a stronger maritime dimension to urban regeneration policy. In order to identify the details of this maritime dimension the local council convened a conference co-hosted and chaired by the University in October 2014 that was attended by local fishers, national level policy organisations (such as South East Local Entreprise Partnership, MMO, Defra, NUTFA and Natural England) and a range of local regeneration stakeholders.
Outputs
> GIFS Toolkit 21st Century Catch: University of Brighton a key author on Governance, Education, Participatory chapters, Hastings case study chapter and general editorial
> GIFS Interactive Map: governance, education, participatory methods, Hastings case study content
> NEAFO final report chapter on Hastings workshops: Kenter, J.O., Reed, M. S., Irvine, K.N., O'Brien, E., Brady, E., Bryce, R., Christie, M., Church, A., Cooper, N., Davies, A., Hockley, N., Fazey, I., Jobstvogt, N., Molloy, C., Orchard-Webb, J., Ravenscroft, N., Ryan, M., Watson, V. (2014) UK National Ecosystem Assessment follow-on phase, technical report: Shared, Plural and Cultural Values of Ecosystems. UNEP-WCMC, Cambridge.
Governance findings position paper: “Inshore fisheries: too important to ignore?”
Final report Activity 1.2 Governance: “GIFS Activity 1.2 FINAL REPORT: Coastal zone governance and Inshore Fishing: Inshore Fishing Community Governance Case Studies”
Final report Activity 3.4 education: “Fisheries led and based alternative education” (includes two additional supporting reports from scoping and educationalist pilot work)
CUPP University of Brighton impact publication: “Inshore fisheries research co-design and collaboration in delivery.”
“Regenerating Hastings: The place for fishing, learning and tourism in a maritime environment”: conference co-developed, chaired, facilitated by University of Brighton GIFS team.
| Acronym | GIFS |
|---|---|
| Status | Finished |
| Effective start/end date | 1/12/11 → 30/09/14 |
Funding
- INTERREG
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