About the partnership

The NSC Fisheries Partnership was founded to promote co-operation between scientists and fishers in monitoring and managing fisheries in the North Sea.

The concept of a Partnership originated in 1998 at a conference on “The Scientists and the Fishermen” held by the North Sea Commission at Haddo House, Aberdeenshire. There, a suggestion was put forward that there should be a standing forum to enable fishers and scientists from around the North Sea to meet one another regularly. Such a forum would enable scientists to consult fishers at an early stage on the advice to be given to fisheries managers on the state of fish stocks. It would bring fishers closer to the workings of the expert groups concerned with fisheries management. It would promote discussion of management measures, drawing upon the practical experience of fishers, as well as the technical expertise of scientists. And, it would enable the management of the fisheries in the North Sea to be discussed thoroughly by those with the strongest interest in them.

The NSC Fisheries Partnership was subsequently set up, with the backing of the North Sea Commission, and held its first meeting in Bergen Norway in April 2000.