Fisheries Management Plans
Page review/updated 07/10/2026
Page Updated: 7th October 2026
Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) are action plans created under the UK Fisheries Act 2020 to sustainably manage fish stocks. Developed collaboratively by the UK government, fishing industry, and other stakeholders, their goal is to ensure a healthy marine environment and a prosperous fishing sector for the future.
IFCAs are crucial partners in the FMP process; they provide important scientific evidence, local knowledge and industry engagement during FMP development, and will be critical for implementation once FMPs are finalised.
D&S IFCA has played a leading role within multiple Fisheries Management Plans, particularly Crab and Lobster, Bass, Whelk, Scallop and Celtic Sea and Western Channel Demersal and Pelagic Fisheries Management Plans, helping develop management interventions, identify evidence gaps and test practical solutions informed by local fisheries experience.
D&S IFCA’s contributions to FMP development has included attendance at a range of national meeting and workshops andD&S IFCA Officers have reported back to Defra on the progress of their involvement in the development and implementation of these FMPs.
The work undertaken and reports provided to Defra can be viewed below and provide the detail of the work D&S IFCA has done to deliver the FMP workstreams:
2019/2020: Attendance at and contributed to the inaugural Crab Management meeting as part of the development of the Crab and Lobster FMP and attended several meetings relating to spiny lobster management and analysed data to help inform management of this species which is included in the Crab and Lobster FMP. D&S IFCA is the lead IFCA for the Crab and lobster FMP.
2020/22: Officers attended several meetings of the Crab Management Group and the Science Subgroup to provide knowledge and expertise in the development of evidence needs to fill gaps in knowledge to support the FMP development. Stakeholder engagement events were attended, and a presentation was given to the IFCAs’ Chief Officers’ Group. This year saw the initial development of a Fisheries Industry Science Partnership (FISP) project on soft shelf Carb to aid evidence gaps within the FMP.
2022/23: Development of five of the six ‘frontrunner’ FMPs which included Crab and Lobster FMP, Whelk, FMO, Scallop FMP, Channel NQS FMP and Bass FMP. Working group meetings and workshops were attended with Officers providing management experience, local fisheries knowledge and direct input through specialist advisory groups.
2023/24: Officers contributed to Tranche 2 FMPs’ development and frontrunner FMPs’ implementation. Responses to the front runner FMPs were submitted to Defra in July 2023 and can be viewed below:
- D&S IFCA’s response to Crab & Lobster FMP Consultation
- D&S IFCA’s response to Whelk FMP Consultation
- D&S IFCA’s response to King Scallop FMP Consultation
- D&S IFCA’s response to Channel NQS FMP Consultation
- D&S IFCA’s response to Bass FMP Consultation
Work continued on the development of short-term management interventions for crustacea fisheries, and bass survivability research informing national Bass FMP discussions and the review of D&S IFCA’s Netting Permit Conditions. D&S IFCA attended numerous meetings of the Tranche 2 FMP including Skates & Rays FMP, CSWC Pelagic ad Demersal FMPs, Wrasse and Black Bream FMP and the Cuttlefish FMP.
2019 -2024 National Reporting to Defra
- Spreadsheet of D&S IFCA’s FMP work undertaken to inform Defra’s Funding Review 2019-2024.
- Summary of D&S IFCA’s FMP work 2019-2024
2024/25: Officers attending 28 FMP meetings and continuing the lead IFCA role in the Crab and Lobster FMP. Work included co-delivery of the FISP project on soft-shelled crab, linked directly to Crab and Lobster FMP implementation. Officer became more involved in the development management interventions for the Whelk FMP attending workshops on the development of an English Whelk Permit.
2025 National Reporting to Defra
- Spreadsheet of D&S IFCA’s FMP work undertaken from 1st April 2025 to 31st August 2025.
- Report on D&S IFCA’s FMP Progress – 1st April 2025 to 31st August 2025.
- Spreadsheet of D&S IFCA’s FMP work undertaken between 1st September 2025 to 31st December 2025.
2025/26: Officers continued to play an active role in both FMP development and implementation, participating in industry advisory groups, management groups, science sub-groups, implementation groups and specialist task-and-finish groups. Officers assisted with development of FMP-linked management measures including prohibition on landing of soft-shell crab, pollack recovery measures and Southwest crab MCRS increase, as well as the increase MCRS for Lobster to 90mm to be phased in nationally.