Owners and skippers urged to have their say

This year’s survey is travelling across the UK gathering data on fishing and vessel costs to provide a comprehensive overview of the financial and operational performance of the fishing industry.

With the UK preparing to exit the European Union, it is vital fishers provide accurate data to paint a clear picture of the performance of the industry for policy-makers.

Researchers have been visiting fishing ports between Berwick and Sunderland this week and there is still time to take part in the survey if you haven’t already had your say.

The survey is a chance for the industry to give up-to-date information on their successes and upcoming challenges, helping their voices be heard.

This year will also include a social demographic section, asking fishers about their age, qualifications and working arrangements, providing more insight in to the individuals in the catching sector.

The findings from this year’s survey, to be published in 2019, will be crucial for uncovering the direction the industry is moving in and give a clear insight on how fishers see the future of their industry.

Economics Project Manager at Seafish, Steve Lawrence, said: “We have to find out from those on the frontline of the fishing industry how their economic performance has been over the past 12 months.

“This insight means we can keep all those in the sector fully informed on the health of the fleet. For us to be able to keep policy-makers informed with our reports we need as many skippers and vessel owners as possible to be involved.”

Email [email protected] to arrange an interview with a researcher.