Beyond fish as commodities: understanding the socio-cultural role of inshore fisheries in England

Inshore fishing, by boats under 10 m, has a long tradition on the coasts of England but its role in the contemporary communities is not well understood, and increasingly policy makers have become focused on trying to find ways to improve its environmental, social and ecological sustainability. This paper reports on a research project that sought, through case studies on the English coast, to explore the socio-cultural role that inshore fishing plays and how policies could be developed to enhance its contributions. Inshore fishing was found to be highly valued not only for its importance in supporting livelihoods, but also in the creation of place identities tied to fishing as an occupation and the ecological opportunities for fishing that are available at the different localities. Findings are discussed in the context of harnessing these attributes for fostering sustainable fishing communities, underpinned by strengthening the ties between the catch and the locality