Nephrops FIP

The Shellfish Association of Great Britain (SAGB) is now facilitating the Nephrops Fishery Improvement Project (FIP), taking over from Seafish who managed the project since its establishment in 2019.

The Nephrops FIP is a collaborative, industry-led partnership designed to improve the sustainable management of UK Nephrops fisheries over five years (2025–2030), and to strengthen social responsibility across the fleet. The FIP is supported by the UK catching sector, processors, retailers, fisheries scientists and SAGB, and builds on the work of the former Project UK FIP which concluded in 2024.

The Nephrops FIP has been accepted onto the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Improvement Program, which supports fisheries in making measurable, independently verified progress towards third-party certification. To become certified, a fishery must address three core principles: the sustainability of the stock, ecosystem impacts, and effective management.

What does the FIP aim to achieve?

The aims of the Nephrops FIP are to:

  • Drive improvements in the sustainable management of UK Nephrops fisheries
  • Support UK Nephrops fisheries in working towards meeting the MSC Fisheries Standard for certification, or another GSSI-recognised certification scheme
  • Strengthen social sustainability and crew welfare across the UK Nephrops fleet
  • Enable seafood businesses to collaborate in a pre-competitive space and demonstrate a credible process of fishery development

Governance

The FIP is directed by an industry-led Working Group acting on behalf of a wider Steering Group, which includes representatives from the catching, processing, retail and supply chain sectors, as well as regulators, scientists and environmental NGOs. Both groups meet regularly to review progress and share knowledge, with regional groups addressing local issues as required.

A dedicated Social Responsibility Group has also been established to review and address crew welfare and human rights risks across the Nephrops fishing industry.

Applications for membership of the FIP, or any of its groups, shall be made in writing to the Secretariat. Membership decisions are made by the Working Group.

If you would like enquire about partaking in the FIP as a member, please contact admin@shellfish.org.uk

About Nephrops

Nephrops (Nephrops norvegicus), commonly known as langoustine, Norway lobster or Dublin Bay prawn, is one of the UK’s most commercially valuable shellfish species. It is caught using creels and trawl nets across the North Sea, Irish Sea, and seas off the west coast of Scotland.

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