Investing in UK Fishing, Shellfish Aquaculture and the Coast: A Discussion with the Minister
Co-hosted by the APPG on Fisheries and APPG for Shellfish Aquaculture, our “Investing in UK Fishing, Shellfish Aquaculture and the Coast” event on 25 June 2025 brought together parliamentarians, policymakers, and sector professionals, who together explored what an effective, targeted UK Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund might look like. Following an opening address from the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs, our panellists outlined key priority areas for support, and steps needed to ensure the fund becomes an effective vehicle for investment in the future of our fishing, shellfish aquaculture and wider seafood communities.
During the meeting attendees heard from:
Daniel Zeichner MP, Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs, Defra
David Jarrad, Chief Executive, The Shellfish Association of Great Britain (SAGB) | Secretariat, APPG for Shellfish Aquaculture
Elspeth Macdonald, Executive Director, Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF)
Harry Owen, Head of Fisheries and Innovation, Western Fish Producers’ Organisation (WFPO)
Jim Evans, Chairman, Welsh Fishermen’s Association (WFA)
Simon Bywater, Chief Executive, Renaissance of the East Anglian Fisheries Community Interest Company (REAF CIC)
Simon Dwyer, Director, UK Seafood Federation (UKSF)
Kara Brydson, Executive Director, Fisheries Innovation & Sustainability (FIS)
A full recording of the online event can be found here:
Questions from APPG Members and those in the room to the Minister were taken following the opening address. A written summary of this discussion is provided below. The session elicited a large number of insights and comments from both panellists and attendees, including those online. These are being collated towards the formulation of recommendations from the APPGs for submission to the Minister’s office ahead of summer recess.
Please note that all comments, questions and answers reflect the views of speakers, rather than the APPG Secretariat or its Members.
COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS TO THE MINISTER
Following the Minister’s statement on the UK Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund, Seamus Logan MP noted that the 12-year access deal with the EU had come as a surprise, however stated that the £360 million UK Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund was welcome and expressed a desire to see more details on how it would be targeted. Challenges surrounding the industry’s workforce, particularly relating to processing, were key issues, he said. Though the Government was determined to encourage younger people into the sector, he detailed that for some geographies this was not always possible due to the nature of the work and appetite for that work. On this basis, a call was made to the Government to help ease these problems. With a Scottish visa ruled out, there was a need to look at what was possible, he said. A desire to see how the fund could encourage new entrants into the fishing sector, more broadly, was also outlined.
Noah Law MP echoed the points made by Seamus Logan MP relating to new entrants to the sector, and relating to support for smaller fleets made by the Minister. As an additional point, he emphasised a separation between the fund and the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme (FaSS), and stressed that those in the sector should dream big on the fund. This was his message to his local fishermen, he said. He highlighted that there was lots to be done – for example, relating to logistics and distribution networks, which was a challenge, particularly with the closure of Plymouth Trawler Agents. With the scale of the funding that had been announced, we should be really ambitious with some of the difficult challenges facing the industry, he said.
Noting this was something that had been highlighted previously with the Minister, APPG for Shellfish Aquaculture Chair and meeting Co-Chair, Caroline Voaden MP emphasised that with regards exports getting the SPS agreement moving was needed. There were also issues relating to water clarification and classification affecting shellfish aquaculture to be addressed. Voaden expressed a desire to see money going towards supporting growth of the shellfish aquaculture sector, and added that there were also issues surrounding native and Pacific oysters the Group would like to see movement on.
On the question of training, Voaden outlined that the funding for South Devon College had not yet come through for this year, though it should have done so in April. This was creating issues for the start of the course in September, she stated. In addition, she highlighted the question of work experience onboard inshore vessels for 14 and 15 year olds, to allow young people to get to know and try the industry before they decide on their future path.
Speaking from the perspective of the East coast of England, APPG for Fisheries Co-Chair and meeting Co-Chair, Melanie Onn MP noted the fragmented nature of the industry in her region. With a struggling small-scale fleet, fishing out of different ports, the region lacked the strength of voice other areas have, she said. Looking at the sustainability of the industry, including in terms of new talent, some of the old tropes surrounding the industry were not really accurate and did not tally with people’s experiences today working in the sector, she added, stating that there was a lot that the Government and industry could do together to help change that image.
In response, the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs, Daniel Zeichner MP, acknowledged that there were no surprises in the points raised. With respect to the workforce issues affecting the sector, he acknowledged how difficult this issue was. In terms of a way forward, he indicated that there was a debate to be had on this. If we take the point that food security matters, we have to find a way to make these industries work. There is a logic that follows from that, even if there are tensions there, he said.
The Minister continued by noting that running through all the points raised was the need to make the industry more attractive, to get younger people in. He expressed an awareness of the challenges surrounding courses, and that another challenge was getting work experience for young people, and the high associated costs entailed in this, particularly for skippers. That said, he emphasised safety, and the importance of not undermining health and safety requirements. The need for a better balance to ensure people could go to sea was accepted, and it was felt that this should not be an impossible thing to do.
The Minister noted the good geographical spread of what is a disparate sector with different problems and challenges, and expressed a desire to ensure support was targeted to those who need it most. He recalled in Lyme Bay hearing a strong message of people catching but facing difficulties in getting their product to market. Smaller operators required support to sell their product. A point of success for this fund would be if it worked for a number of different places and people, he said.
The Minister continued by positing that there wouldn’t be an industry in the future unless it was rested as part of the food system of the future. He indicated that while issues remained with stocks, considering current science, it should be possible to manage for a sustainable catching sector into the future with more data.
Noting the specificity of aquaculture, the Minister indicated that, with respect to Pacific Oysters, if new stock was needed to revitalise things in the right way, then this was potentially something the fund could focus on.
The Minister continued by emphasising his main message in all of this was to send ideas.
Noting the fund’s reference to coastal communities, APPG for Shellfish Aquaculture Chair, Caroline Voaden MP, queried how it would be ensured that the fund goes to fishing- and seafood-related projects, rather than coastal communities in general.
Minister Zeichner indicated that this was something that they were very conscious of, however noted that there would be debate and discussion. He was very keen that the fund would support the fishing sector. He accepted there was a long running discussion on how coastal economies work, and that while fishing was absolutely central to some, in other places it was less so. He said he was making a case for the fund to be strongly tilted towards the fishing sector.
Noah Law MP noted the focus of the APPG on Fisheries on questions surrounding floating offshore wind energy development in the Celtic Sea, and called for a better management of expectations. 95GW, he said, was not happening within this Parliament, nor the next. This was something he had raised with the Crown Estate also, with a request for a clearer footprint roadmap – what it would look like and where. Law recognised ongoing consultations, including with industry representatives. He believed you could do both, he said – accelerate, but also be realistic about the long-term ambition as well.
The Minister noted this as an important intervention, and recognised that spatial squeeze had been on the agenda for some years. There was a long way to go, with discussions to be had, as part of a robust process. He emphasised that his role was to argue the case for the fishing sector. That said, he noted the complications, and competing demands on marine space, as on land. However, he relayed a belief that outcomes were possible if working in collaboration with the sector. He re-emphasised his earlier point of starting analysis from the premise that food security matters – there’s a logic that runs from that, he said. This is a national security issue and we are very fortunate to be on an island surrounded by sustainable, low carbon food sources, which we need to make the most of.
Nicki Holmyard (Offshore Shellfish Ltd.) queried whether once all ideas were in, and the fund was being designed, whether this would be put back out to industry to see if industry feels it is a fair way to invest funds.
In response, the Minister pointed to the interactive and emerging policy process entailed, however signposted also to this being part of the ‘why’ to his attendance at the meeting. We want as much input from people as we can, he said, to inform Government decision-making. The Minister would be making a very strong case that the fund would work for the fishing sector, he relayed.
In support of this, APPG Co-Chair, Melanie Onn MP highlighted that the APPG for Fisheries wanted to gather as much information, and would be making a submission relating to key priorities, noting the APPG for Shellfish Aquaculture was likely working on the same.
The Minister welcomed this noting this would be very helpful.
Harry Owen (WFPO) welcomed the fund, however noted also that not everything that the sector would like to see happening required funding. He offered the example of cuttlefish bycatch in the scallop fishery as an example of sensible deregulation that would support the industry, without having negative environmental consequences.
Agreeing that there were many other things to look at, the Minister noted that following the Fisheries Act, and with the Fisheries Management Plans, a structure was being created. On this, he stressed that under the agreement with the EU the UK maintained regulatory autonomy. There would be no going back into the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), he said.
Wrapping up the discussion with the Minister, APPG for Fisheries Co-Chair, Melanie Onn MP noted there were lots of comments coming through online, and outlined that the APPG would collate these and send them through to the Minister’s office for consideration.
*There was an error reported in one of the slides presented and displayed in the recording indicating that to meet the demands of a growing UK population, an additional c.600 metric tons of protein per day will be needed. This figure was reported in error and should read c.1,230 metric tons of protein per day.
Slide deck here:
