YouTube Video
A science workshop about fisheries science data collection led by Dr Simon Thomas.
Understanding Fisheries Science: A Groundbreaking Initiative by Lyme Bay Fisherman’s CIC
The Lyme Bay Fisherman’s Community Interest Company (CIC) was established to champion sustainable fishing practices, engage meaningfully with regulators, and safeguard the future of coastal communities in Lyme Bay. This pioneering project—“Everything You Wanted to Know About Fisheries Science but Were Too Afraid to Ask”—marks a revolutionary step in bridging the gap between frontline fishing experience and fisheries science.
Funded by the Marine Management Organisation’s (MMO) Fisheries and Seafood Scheme (FaSS), Blue Marine Foundation, and the Fishmongers’ Company Charitable Trust, the initiative empowers fishermen with the knowledge and tools to understand how data is collected, interpreted, and used to shape fisheries management. Led by Dr Simon Thomas, a former fisherman and fisheries scientist, the project includes a comprehensive gap analysis report and two hands-on workshops tailored for the CIC’s 47 members.
The workshops cover the fundamentals of stock assessments, data collection, and practical skills such as measuring, sexing, and removing otolith bones. These sessions are designed to help fishermen contribute directly to data gathering and engage more effectively with Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) and other regulatory processes. Supporting materials—including desktop research reports on the top 20 species of local significance—is available here online, alongside filmed workshop content and downloadable resources for wider use.
This project is a vital step toward transforming local knowledge into meaningful scientific data. By equipping fishermen with the skills to collect and interpret stock data, the CIC is helping to build a more collaborative and informed approach to sustainable fisheries.
We extend our sincere thanks to the MMO’s FaSS scheme, Blue Marine Foundation, and the Fishmongers’ Company Charitable Trust. Their generous support has made this groundbreaking work possible, and without their funding, none of it could have been achieved.
