Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund stakeholder engagement: autumn 2025
Published 19 February 2026
Applies to England
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The Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund (FCGF) is being developed with feedback from the fishing and seafood sector, coastal communities and partner organisations.
A round of engagement took place throughout autumn 2025. During this round, we gathered a broad range of perspectives from across the fisheries and coastal sectors through a combination of engagement methods.
Overview and next steps
Evidence from the stakeholder engagement is being used to refine the scope and delivery approach of the FCGF. This is to ensure the fund supports sustainable growth and benefits coastal communities.
The engagement responses are being analysed, with further detailed work ongoing. Early findings show a range of challenges across regions and region-specific needs, as well as opportunities for the sector.
The engagement generated many ideas on how the fund should work and what it should support. In particular, there were discussions on improving funding mechanisms in England to better match the sector’s structure and needs.
The most common funding priorities discussions were about:
- infrastructure, including portside facilities
- health and safety improvements
- workforce development, such as training
- making the sector more attractive to younger workers
Overview of engagement methodology
A range of engagement methods were used to gather insight from the fishing and seafood sector, coastal communities, and partner organisations. This included:
- webinars
- survey
- port visits
- participation in regional fisheries groups
Webinars
Six webinars were delivered to inform stakeholders about the developing programme and gather their feedback. The total number of registrations was 166.
Online survey responses
53 survey responses were completed.
Port visits
Engagement was carried out across 5 ports to gather first‑hand input from fishers, harbour authorities, and local stakeholders. Visits took place in:
- North Shields
- Hartlepool
- Poole
- Mudeford
- Plymouth
Regional Fisheries Groups
We attended and engaged with Regional Fisheries Groups covering the:
- North West
- South
- North East
Engagement with government and other organisations
To ensure plans align with policy and to strengthen programme design, a range of government departments, arm’s‑length bodies, and national organisations were engaged. These included:
- Department for Transport (DfT)
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS)
- Seafish
- Natural England
- Marine Management Organisation (MMO)
- Association of Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (AIFCAs)
- Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG)
- Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)
- Local Authorities and Neighbourhood Board Chairs from phase 1 areas of the Pride in Place programme
Additional organisations we engaged with included:
- Angling Trust
- British Ports Association
- National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations (NFFO)
- The Plymouth Fishing and Seafood Association
- Lyme Bay Fishermen’s Community Interest Company
- Seafood Association of Great Britain (SAGB)
- The Renaissance of East Anglian Fisheries (REAF)
- United Kingdom Association of Fish Producer Organisations (UKAFPO)