Nephrops Fishery Improvement Project
The Nephrops fishery
Nephrops (also known as langoustine, Norway lobster, prawn, or scampi) is the UK’s most valuable shellfish stock. It has been commercially targeted since the 1960s using creels and trawl nets in the North Sea, Irish Sea, and seas off the west coast of Scotland.
From its high sales value, to providing local employment, to being a dinner-time staple in British households, it is a vital fishery for the UK and many coastal communities.
The Nephrops FIP
The Nephrops Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) is a collaborative, industry-led partnership designed to improve the sustainable management of UK Nephrops fisheries and aims to strengthen social responsibility across the fleet.
The FIP is supported by the catching sector, processors, retailers, fisheries scientists, and Seafish, all of whom are fully committed to the FIP’s approach to achieve Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification. Fourteen businesses from across the Nephrops supply chain have pledged to fund and support the FIP over the next five years. The work builds on the former Project UK FIP, which ended in June 2024. Seafish acts as the facilitator of the Nephrops FIP.
This collaborative process has been underway for the past 12 months to establish a credible FIP for entry into the MSC Improvement Program. To date the FIP partners, supported by Seafish, have met on more than 20 occasions to drive the work forward.
A comprehensive Action Plan was developed in collaboration with industry last summer and has been in place since September 2024. The Action Plan sets out a roadmap to drive improvements and achieve sustainable and well-managed fisheries in line with three core principles: the sustainability of the stock, ecosystem impacts and effective management.
Update on FIP status
The FIP’s application is currently under review by the independent Conformity Assessment Body (CAB), which is a formal verification process expected to be completed by mid-April. Once approved, it will be sent to the MSC Improvement Program for the final submission.
Importantly, since the Action Plan was agreed internally by FIP Partners last summer, work has been underway to continue to progress preparatory actions on many of the initiatives in the FIP Action Plan. This involves work to trial innovative gear technologies, including pioneering fishing gear from New Zealand to increase gear selectivity and to minimise bycatch.
The Nephrops FIP is also utilising the Project UK End of FIP Report and Year 5 Action Plan to guide its work whilst the updated MSC Improvement Program Action Plan is under review by the CAB.
Read the latest report from Project UK via the link below:
What’s next?
The time taken to reach this stage is very much a reflection of the complexity of the matter and the commitment by all involved to deliver the optimum programme for change. Consequently, the Nephrops FIP is in a strong position to hit the ground running once the MSC Improvement Program application is approved.
The multi-stakeholder partnership with industry at its heart is a strong example of cross-sector collaboration, looking to deliver meaningful, on the water change.
Contact
To find out more about the Nephrops FIP, please contact Fiona Birch-Green (Fisheries Analyst) by emailing fiona.birch-green@seafish.co.uk.