Transparency data

12 August 2025: King Scallop Implementation Group (KSIG) meeting minutes

Updated 22 September 2025

This meeting was held online via Microsoft Teams on Tuesday 12 August 2025 (2:30pm to 5:00pm UK time). 

Attendees 

• Martin Underwood – Defra, chair 

• Katie Haldenby, Helen Hunter – Defra 

• Mark Duffy – Natural England 

• Lewis Tattersall – Seafish 

• David Beard – Manx Fish Producers Organisation 

• Foster Gault – Seafood Ecosse, Scottish White Fish Producers Organisation 

• David McCandless – North Eastern Inshore Fishery and Conservation Authority 

• Robert Enever – Fishtek Marine 

• Clarus Chu – WWF-UK 

• Andrew Brown – Clearwater 

• Tim Dixon – Marine Management Organisation (MMO) 

• Louise Price – MMO 

• Fiona Nimmo – NiMa Consultant to the Fishery Improvement Project (FIP) 

• Holly Kaiser – FIP representative 

Apologies 

• Juliette Hatchman – South West Fish Producers Organisation (SWFPO), Scallop Industry Consultation Group (SICG) 

• Stuart King – West Coast Sea Products 

• Bill Brock – Leach Fishing 

• Callum Williams – MMO 

• Harry Owen – Western Fish Producers Organisation 

Agenda 

1. Welcome, apologies, minute taker, review of actions from May meeting 

2. Introduction to the Scallop FIP 

3. Membership changes 

4. Channel King Scallop UK and EU Multi-Year Strategy (MYSt) update 

5. Task-and-finish groups 

a) Work plan update 

b) Input and output controls 

c) Benthic impact working group 

d) Update on proposal for new task and finish group – environmental impacts or potting 

6. Welsh Government update 

7. Closure guidance discussion 

8. Any other business 

9. Final review of actions from current meeting, next KSIG meetings, close meeting 

1. Welcome, apologies, minute taker, review of actions from May meeting 

All required actions from the previous meeting had been completed. For awareness, a blog post to promote KSIG’s work is due to be published soon on the GOV UK website. 

The question of financial reimbursement for meeting attendance has been escalated raised and an update will be provided soon. 

Any new actions will appear at the end of the minutes. 

2. Introduction to the Scallop FIP

Fiona Nimmo, consultant to the Fishery Improvement Project, provided an overview of the UK King Scallop FIP, its structure, scope, and progress. The aim was to increase awareness among KSIG members, highlight how the FIP supports the Fisheries Management Plan (FMP), and identify opportunities for collaboration.  

The FIP has three core components: 

• Steering Group – this includes representatives from: catching sector, supply chain, regulators, scientists, environmental non-government organisations (eNGOs), and statutory conservation bodies – it sets strategic direction and ensures stakeholder representation 

• Working Group – the working group is a subgroup of the Steering Group, it is responsible for delivering specific actions – it is supported by Fiona (fisheries expert), Jennifer Mouat (project manager), and Holly Kaiser (secretariat from Seafish) 

• Support Group – this group provides coordination and technical expertise and is made up of Seafish (secretariat), Fiona (fisheries expert), and Jennifer (project manager) 

The Units of Assessment (UoAs) are areas that have been assessed by scientific bodies based on fishing activity and stock assessment areas. The UoAs covers all UK-registered vessels using dredge gear. There are 16 defined areas which are made up of 15 stock assessment areas and 1 catch-all area for fishing outside defined stocks. The UoAs encompass the North Sea, West of Scotland, the Irish Sea, the Celtic Sea and the English Channel. Each UoA is assessed independently based on scientific data. The Irish Sea is currently treated as one stock unit but may be split as data improves. 

The FIP action plan spans six years (2025–2031) and is designed to bring the fishery in line with the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) standard (v2.01, with future updates planned). 

It is structured around the three MSC principles: 

• Principle 1: Stock Sustainability 

• Principle 2: Ecosystem impacts 

• Principle 3: Governance 

Principle 1 focusses on the following. 

Harvest strategy 

This includes developing and implementing FMPs and harvest strategies as well as evaluating their effectiveness over time. 

Annual monitoring 

This includes collecting data such as total catch, Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) or Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS). This also takes form in encouraging stock assessments in all areas. 

Reference points 

This includes defining biological or adaptive reference points – for example CPUE. 

Harvest Control Rules (HCR) 

This includes developing rules to reduce exploitation if the point of recruitment impairment is being approached within the stock. Harvest control rules are expected to keep the stock fluctuating around the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) as well as developing specific harvest control rules.  

Principle 2 focusses on the following. 

Secondary species management 

This uses bycatch analysis to review total catch quantities and ensure that the species composition is accurate. It also will update the alternative measures paper and document any alternative measures that are implemented that reduce unwanted catch. This includes changes in gear such as the skid dredge. 

Endangered, Threatened, and Protected (ETP) species 

A key part of the ETP work is to collect clear, measurable data on how often and which species are being affected by fishing. This will use existing data from stock assessments and bycatch studies, including observer reports. Based on this, the team will explore management options to reduce these interactions where needed and clearly show where such measures are being applied. 

Habitat and ecosystem 

The goal of this is to better understand the impact of scallop fishing on habitats. This includes analysing fishing activity using inshore Vessel Monitoring System (iVMS) data and reviewing current protections in the UK Marine Protected Area (MPA) network. If more habitat protection is needed, new measures will be introduced. 

Principle 3 focusses on the following. 

Legal framework and roles 

The focus is on shared stocks, for example, within the Irish Sea. Develop cooperative management arrangements. The goal is to work with other countries fishing in the Irish Sea to create joint management plans. It also involves gathering evidence to show that consultations are inclusive and effective, and making sure roles and responsibilities are clearly defined. 

Fishery objectives and decision making 

This action focuses on setting clear fishery goals and decision-making processes. Each action is tailored to different regions and fisheries authorities, with separate timelines for each. The aim is to define short- and long-term objectives, ensure decisions respond to key issues, follow the precautionary approach, and share updates on how the fishery is performing. 

Compliance and evaluation 

The focus is on making sure there are proper systems in place to enforce both current and future management measures. It also includes setting up clear procedures to regularly check how well these measures are working, both internally and externally. 

The FIP officially launched on 1 March 2025. Since then, the working and steering groups have met regularly. The action plan was developed between May and June and is being finalised this month. It runs for six years, ending in March 2031. The Channel scallop FIP is expected to move to the new Southwest Seafood Sustainability Hub (SW Hub) once the hub is set up and ready to manage it. 

Discussion

A member raised concerns about overlap between the FIP and the FMP. It was clarified that the FIP complements existing work, especially in areas like Scotland and the Irish Sea. 

A member asked for clarity on membership and representation. The working group is mainly composed of industry members, but also includes MMO, Defra and scientists. The steering group comprises a wider range of stakeholders including eNGOs, Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies and retailers (with one retailer actively funding and others staying updated). Most members are from industry. While some represent English interests, few focus specifically on channel scallops—though some are involved in both areas. A member asked whether it would be possible to name the Producer Organisations (POs) involved, particularly those relevant to the English Channel. It was noted that there are possible GDPR considerations so could not reveal that information at this time. A member asked about whether there was any IFCA involvement. It was confirmed that there is IFCA involvement in the steering group. 

The Chair noted the FIP is an industry led initiative. The FMP is separate and delivered under the Fisheries Act. They noted the FMP will likely compliment delivery of some of the objectives of the FIP. They asked that the FIP take an action to set out where the links are between the FMP and the FIP to identify any opportunities to support delivery of the FMP. 

3. Membership changes  

The Chair outlined some membership changes: 

• Tom Beresford has stepped down as the under 15m rep due to time constraints 

• a potential new member’s application, as discussed at the May meeting, was declined based on group fit and expertise needs 

• Claire Pescod has left Macduff Shellfish and Holly Kaiser will temporarily represent the FIP until the new Chair of the FIP decides on a new rep 

• Andrew Brown now represents Clearwater Fine Foods Europe, following the split of Macduff’s fleet and processing operations 

• Foster Gault offered to represent Macduff’s interests and will seek further clarity on representation 

The group acknowledged Claire’s significant contributions and agreed to formally recognise the quality and importance of her work across all shellfish policy areas. 

The Chair emphasised the need for diverse views in the group. Smaller-scale vessels, in particular, often face challenges in taking part. The group will consider approaches to wider stakeholder engagement at the next meeting.  

To support transparency, Defra are asking members to complete a declaration of interest form. This helps provide clarity on who each member represents and ensures that it is clear about who are the stakeholders involved as the policy develops. 

Actions following the meeting: 

• all members to complete declaration of interest form 

• all members to prepare for a discussion at the next meeting on how members can better engage with their wider stakeholders 

4. Channel King Scallop UK and EU Multi-Year Strategy (MYSt) update 

Defra recently updated stakeholders, including KSIG, about the MYSt. It’s a UK-EU pilot to improve sustainability of Channel King Scallops through shared management. A technical group has been formed, including members from Defra and the EU Commission, to develop the strategy. A scientific expert group has also been established, made up of scientists from Cefas (UK), Ifremer (France), and the Marine Institute (Ireland). The purpose of the expert group is to produce a joint evidence base on scallop fisheries across UK and EU waters. 

The work includes: 

• reviewing existing management practices 

• identifying what can be applied to shared scallop stocks 

• producing a comprehensive ‘state of the nation’ report 

The first part of the report is expected to be delivered to the technical group around September 2025, with further sections to follow, which will inform future discussions on any potential joint management options and MYSt scope. The report will be shared with stakeholders in due course, with further engagement planned carefully to ensure meaningful input. 

5. Task and finish groups 

During the meeting, there were four updates relating to the different task and finish groups. 

a) Work plan update 

It was explained that due to capacity challenges within the group, Defra has taken responsibility for progressing the work plan. The initial focus will be on: 

• objective 2: input and output controls 

• objective 5: benthic impacts 

b) Input and output controls 

Two meetings have already taken place which have generated valuable discussion and ideas. A face-to-face workshop is being planned to finalise the list of management options. A research project is being commissioned to test these options using a modelling tool. It will assess alignment with Fisheries Act goals and potential impacts. 

Defra are collating documents and ideas that have been shared so far, to help shape the options, including a list of underpinning evidence.  

A draft timeline was presented to the group to give an indication of the timings for each part of the work. 

• May 2025: initial Cefas report shared with KSIG 

• June to July 2025: two task and finish meetings held 

• Early September 2025: project specification for modelling tool to be shared 

• Early October 2025: face-to-face workshop to finalise options 

• November 2025: finalised options shared with the group 

• January 2026: consultation package prepared (subject to project progress) 

Once the timeline has been finalised, this will be shared with the KSIG. 

Action: Katie Haldenby to share the timeline for the input and output controls work. 

c) Benthic impact working group 

One of the key priorities in the King Scallop FMP is to understand and reduce the environmental impacts of scallop fishing, particularly on benthic (seafloor) habitats 

A dedicated working group is being set up to focus on benthic impacts – the benthic impact working group (BIWG). The relevant FMP actions will be considered as part of this group. Defra will keep KSIG informed as this progresses. 

d) Update on proposal for new task and finish group – environmental impacts or potting  

Based on feedback from members, it was agreed that the proposed task and finish group on the use of lower impact gears would focus more on assessing the environmental impacts from scallop harvesting. This would support the work proposed for the BIWG to take on, and so instead of focusing on specific gear types (like potting), the group would: 

• create a structured table showing different harvesting methods 

• include columns for activity type, pressure, environmental response, and severity 

• use this to identify mitigation opportunities and link findings to the FMP 

This new approach will be discussed with the other members of the task and finish group.  

Action: Mark Duffy to circulate updated task and finish group proposal for KSIG members for comment. 

6. Welsh government update 

Welsh Government are planning to launch a consultation on proposed changes to king scallop management measures in Welsh waters, to create a new framework to ensure sustainability of stocks and protect the environment. 

A consultation will be launched with on a date to be determined. The consultation will be open for 12 weeks. 

They will encourage all stakeholders to consider the proposals and feedback views. 

7. Closure guidance discussion 

The MMO presented a draft closure guidance document, a key short-term action under the King Scallop FMP. The document outlines the principles and criteria MMO apply for implementing spatial closures to protect scallop stocks and support sustainable fishing. This included the Fisheries Act objectives and legal and policy considerations, such as compliance with the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA).

Discussion 

A member raised a question about whether MMO uses a scoring matrix to assess closure decisions. They suggested that with multiple criteria (13 listed in the guidance), it might be useful to rank or score them to help determine whether a closure is justified. 

MMO responded that no formal scoring matrix is currently used. MMO’s decision-making process is based on a structured checklist of criteria, similar to how marine licensing decisions are made. MMO teams consider all relevant information (stakeholder input, scientific data, policy context) and make decisions accordingly.  

A member felt closures are imprecise tools and questioned how MMO could confidently set their duration and extent, since the actual benefit to fish stocks is often just assumed. 

A member also noted that the primary objective of fisheries management closures was to manage the fishery. They said that marine conservation and protection should be pursued through a strategic MPA network rather than fisheries management closures. 

A member raised a concern about how FMPs are developed. They said that when creating management measures for one FMP, we should not ignore how those measures might affect fish stocks covered by other FMPs. They suggested that potentially closing areas with low economic value to dredging could help crab stocks recover. They suggested that all FMPs should work together. When management measures are designed, it should be considered how they might help or harm the goals of other FMPs. 

Members also stressed the need for early stakeholder engagement, especially to understand the socio-economic impacts before decisions around closures are made. 

MMO acknowledged the feedback and welcomed written comments to help refine the document. They also noted that the MMO’s intent was to be collaborative and transparent, and that the principles could be adjusted to better reflect that. 

Action: Members to review the document and share written feedback with MMO and Defra by 5 September 2025.  

The document has been made available on the KSIG SharePoint, and comments should be made onto the document. 

8. Any other business 

A member thanked Defra for publishing the KSIG meeting notes online. They said this level of transparency is rare and appreciated, especially compared to other implementation groups where meeting details aren’t as visible. They highlighted that non-governmental organisations (NGOs) had noticed and praised KSIG’s openness, which helps build trust and clarity around the group’s work. 

9. Final review of actions from current meeting, next KSIG meetings, close meeting 

The next KSIG meeting will be held online via Microsoft Teams. It will take place on Thursday 13 November at 10:00am until 12:15pm. 

Actions 

Defra (Helen Hunter) to share the MYSt expert group report with KSIG once available. Expected due date: December 2025. 

All members to prepare for a discussion at the next meeting on how members can better engage with their wider stakeholders. This follows feedback about the need to share documents more openly. The aim is to find effective ways to improve transparency without limiting communication. Due: 13 November 2025. 

All members to complete the declaration of interest form. Due: 30 September 2025. 

Defra (Katie Haldenby) to share the timeline for the input and output controls work. Due: 12 September 2025. 

Natural England (Mark Duffy) to circulate updated task and finish group proposal. Due: 30 September 2025. 

All members to provide written feedback on MMO’s draft closure guidance. Due: 5 September 2025.