The Fisheries Management and Innovation Group

The Fisheries Management Innovation Group (FMIG) provides a safe meeting space to discuss the key challenges facing the UK catching sector. The three key areas for discussion are: legislation and regulation, stock assessment issues and how to introduce new technology. 

People take part to keep-up-to-date with the latest developments, to be part of a cross-industry discussion and listen to the issues raised by other parts of the industry. They can also raise their own issues, present new ideas, network with other people or make new contacts. 

The group is led by our industry and we take responsibility for running the FMIG. The Group has every year since 2009. The FMIG brings together people who represent the catching sector, as well as the retail, food service and restaurant industries. Other people who attend are not-for-profit environmental voluntary groups, consumer groups, government, scientists and industry bodies. 

This group was formerly the Discard Action Group (DAG) and was originally set up as a forum for the discussion of industry-wide problems relating to discards. 

There are generally three meetings a year. The details of the most recent meetings are below.  

We currently run a mix of in-person and short online FMIG sessions. 

Next meeting

There are generally three meetings each year, two online and one in person.  

Next meeting: 

• Wednesday 10 December, 2-3:30PM online, joint with CLG, Fish Stock Status of North East Atlantic Fisheries. 

To keep updated, subscribe to our newsletter: 

Previous meetings

Presentations from previous meetings, where we have author consent, are available upon request by emailing: issuesgroups@seafish.co.uk. 

FMIG 15 July 2025 ‘Fisheries Improvement Projects: a wholescape view 

This meeting supported open discussion about where Fisheries Improvement Projects (FIPs) are and where they are going for the whole of the UK, providing content valuable for industry whether in- or outside of the FIP process. 

Morning session: FIP matters 

• Overview of UK FIPs from the last 10 years. Lewis Tattersall, Seafish 
• The value of FIPs to the supply chain. Drin Lutchman, Sustainable Fisheries Partnership 
• Value of FIPs for feed production. Dave Robb, Cargill.
• The value of FIPs to Fisheries Management Plans and the role of UK governments in supporting FIP success. Martin Underwood, Defra.
• What FIPs are and what they could do. Alice Chamberlain, WWF. 

Afternoon session: the future of FIPs in the UK and practical advice 

• Funding FIPs: the future of the Fisheries Improvement Fund. Doug Hull, Finance Earth.
• Beyond Project UK: What’s next for MSC and Round 3 FIPs? George Clark, Marine Stewardship Council.
• Insights, challenges and practical advice from the Eastern Central North Sea brown crab FIP. Dave Markham, Markham Asia.
• Insights, challenges and practical advice from the Nephrops FIP. Adam Holland, NIFPO. 

Notes and minutes from recent FMIG bite-size and in person meetings are available upon request by emailing issuesgroups@seafish.co.uk.

FMIG newsletters

We send regular emails with a round up of stories, research and projects in the seafood industry. Subscribe to receive our updates and meeting details.

Terms of Reference and archive

• We have archived presentations from previous FMIG and DAG meetings. These are available upon request by emailing issuesgroups@seafish.co.uk.

Contacts

For more information about The Fisheries Management and Innovation Group contact issuesgroups@seafish.co.uk.