North & East Coast Regional Inshore Fisheries Group (RIFG)

Role:

The North & East Coast Regional Inshore Fisheries Group is one of Scotland’s regional fisheries advisory bodies designed to support sustainable management of inshore fisheries within the 0–12 nautical mile zone of Scottish waters. It is part of the wider Regional Inshore Fisheries Groups (RIFG) network, which gives commercial inshore fishers a collective voice in decision-making and helps ensure that local industry perspectives are considered in marine and fisheries policy discussions.

Responsibilities:

As a non-statutory forum, the North & East Coast RIFG brings together representatives of the local fishing industry, including mobile and static gear sectors, to develop a regional Fisheries Management Plan, share information, and advise on issues affecting inshore fisheries. It encourages engagement from fishers of all scales, facilitates dialogue with government, and contributes to national and regional marine planning processes. The group also works to improve evidence-based management of stocks and habitats relevant to the region’s fishing communities.

Contact information:

Email: inshore@gov.scot

Website: https://rifg.scot/