Regional Inshore Fisheries Groups

1523940Regional Inshore Fisheries GroupsEdited by VictoriaKL.110012745layer_information_pageund14490645051763037435001763037435216563Regional Inshore Fisheries Groups (RIFGs) are collaborative bodies established to strengthen the management of Scotland’s inshore fisheries (out to 12 nautical miles) and ensure commercial inshore fishermen have a strong voice in wider marine management. Initially, six pilot Inshore Fisheries Groups (IFGs) were created in 2009, each developing a management plan for its area. These were replaced in 2013 by six IFGs covering most of Scotland’s coast, excluding Shetland which operates under its own arrangements. In April 2016, the West Coast and North & East Coast RIFGs were formed, consolidating the previous IFGs, alongside the Outer Hebrides RIFG, Orkney Management Group, and Shetland Shellfish Management Organisation. In 2020, as part of the Future Fisheries Management (FFM) policy, the scope of RIFGs was extended to cover the full 12 nautical mile limit. In 2025, the network was restructured to improve regional representation. A new North & North West RIFG now covers the area from Ardnamurchan Point northwards around the west coast and up to Inverness, including the Inner Hebrides north of Ardnamurchan Point. The East Coast RIFG boundary was adjusted and now starts at Inverness and runs clockwise down the east coast to the English border, creating a clearer separation from the new North & North West region. The current RIFG network comprises: North & North West Coast, East Coast, South West Coast, Outer Hebrides, Orkney, and Shetland (operating alongside the Shetland Shellfish Management Organisation full_htmlRegional Inshore Fisheries Groups (RIFGs) are collaborative bodies established to strengthen the management of Scotland’s inshore fisheries (out to 12 nautical miles) and ensure commercial inshore fishermen have a strong voice in wider marine management. Initially, six pilot Inshore Fisheries Groups (IFGs) were created in 2009, each developing a management plan for its area. These were replaced in 2013 by six IFGs covering most of Scotland’s coast, excluding Shetland which operates under its own arrangements. In April 2016, the West Coast and North & East Coast RIFGs were formed, consolidating the previous IFGs, alongside the Outer Hebrides RIFG, Orkney Management Group, and Shetland Shellfish Management Organisation. In 2020, as part of the Future Fisheries Management (FFM) policy, the scope of RIFGs was extended to cover the full 12 nautical mile limit. In 2025, the network was restructured to improve regional representation. A new North & North West RIFG now covers the area from Ardnamurchan Point northwards around the west coast and up to Inverness, including the Inner Hebrides north of Ardnamurchan Point. The East Coast RIFG boundary was adjusted and now starts at Inverness and runs clockwise down the east coast to the English border, creating a clearer separation from the new North & North West region. The current RIFG network comprises: North & North West Coast, East Coast, South West Coast, Outer Hebrides, Orkney, and Shetland (operating alongside the Shetland Shellfish Management Organisation 559841519513258512651955238758852sioc:Itemfoaf:Document<predicates is_array="true"><item>dc:title</item></predicates><type>property</type>dc:datedc:createdxsd:dateTimedate_iso8601dc:modifiedxsd:dateTimedate_iso8601content:encodedsioc:has_creatorrelfoaf:namesioc:num_repliesxsd:integersioc:last_activity_datexsd:dateTimedate_iso8601https://marine.gov.scot/?q=information/regional-inshore-fisheries-groups15893515239412745draftpublished216563176303743511Regional Inshore Fisheries Groups176303743515893515239412745draftpublished216563176303743511Regional Inshore Fisheries Groups176303743515893515239412745draftpublished216563176303743511Regional Inshore Fisheries Groups1763037435