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Poole Harbour

Poole

A once illegal fishery has been reborn as a model of sustainability.

Poole Harbour

Until the mid-2010s most of the clams and cockles sold via Poole Harbour were illegally fished. But a partnership between fishers, Southern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority and others has made the port a model of sustainability, confirmed by its Marine Stewardship Council certification.

The New Economics Foundation supported the transformation with research and organising as part of its Blue New Deal project to revitalise coastal communities and protecting the natural resources they depend on. This thriving fishery is an example of the benefits of working in partnership with fishers, and that good management leads to social and economic benefits while ensuring fishing is sustainable.

New rules needed

Policies that can help unleash the potential of this or similar initiatives across the UK.