The Region

The South West of England holds one of the most dramatic coastlines around the world and one of the richest environments in the UK, with over 60 per cent of the UK's Heritage Coast, almost half the UK's designated bathing waters, and high proportions of the UK's rarest and most endangered habitats (for instance, 57 per cent of the UK's flower rich meadows). 

The counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset and the Isles of Scilly are home to more than four million people and are visited by 15 million tourists annually.

Fishing and fish related industries form an integral part of the region’s social fabric, impacting on its economy, communities, identity and natural environment. The fishing industry is worth £165 million a year to the region and accounts directly for 1,800 jobs and indirectly for a further 1,900. Additionally, recreational sea angling provides a substantial amount of jobs and input into the regional economy. This tremendous value is mirrored in other fisheries dependent areas like those of Ireland, France and Spain.

Due to the nature of the funding for this project, the focus will mainly be on the South West of England, however it is understood that Ireland, France and Spain share the fisheries on which we depend. Therefore, the relevant industries within these countries will be consulted during the project and their interests will be strongly considered.

The outlining waters of the English Channel, Celtic Sea and Western Approaches host an exceptional range of species which are important for commercial fishing and recreational angling, such as dover sole, monkfish, scallops, crab, lobster, plaice, megrim sole, hake, cod, cuttlefish, sardine, sea bass, whiting, pollack, ling, john dory, lemon sole, wrasse, flounder, conger eel and mackerel.

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