At the beginning of 2024, Jerry Percy, who headed the New Under Ten Fishermen’s Association, noted a surge in calls from members. They were expressing their concerns about the scarcity of fish in inshore waters, which were jeopardizing their livelihoods.
These fishermen reported a noticeable decline in fish species such as pollack, commonly caught off Britain’s coasts.
Percy, now retired, attributes the dwindling fish populations near the shore to the UK government’s inadequate fisheries management and the impact of the climate crisis. He points out that since 2012, there has been a 25% reduction in the inshore fleet, significantly diminishing its former capacity.
This situation prompted Percy and others to join protestors outside London’s High Court, where marine conservation charity Blue Marine Foundation had filed a case questioning the government’s decision to disregard scientific advice when setting post-Brexit fish catch limits.
The case criticized the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) for its irresponsible management of fish populations, arguing that it risked both the sustainability of fish stocks and the livelihoods of fishers.
Charles Clover, co-founder of Blue Marine Foundation, emphasized that by allowing excessive exploitation of many species, the government puts not only fish populations at risk but also the ecosystems they support and the fishing industry itself.
The case examined annual fishing quotas for 2024, which were set a year earlier but only recently brought to court. For years, the UK, EU, and Norway have negotiated catch limits for shared commercial fish species. Despite scientific warnings against it, a significant portion of these quotas have been set above advised levels, leading to concerns about the long-term sustainability of these practices.
Blue Marine Foundation accused Defra of violating its post-Brexit commitments to protect Britain’s marine environment and the fishing industry. In 2020, the government introduced a Fisheries Act intended to establish a “world-class” management regime for fisheries, based on the best available science
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/06/catch-limits-defra-fishers-blue-marine-foundation-high-court
