Beyond the catch: Survey data on the human dimensions of commercial fishing in England

Urquhart, Julie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5000-4630, Chiswell, Hannah Marie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4504-1319, Lewis, Nick ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7209-9802, Atkins, Molly ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-9916-9596, Hind-Ozan, Edward, Mann, Rosanna, Ray, Annabelle, Terasa, Ella, Naylor, Angus and Westling, Emma (2026) Beyond the catch: Survey data on the human dimensions of commercial fishing in England. Scientific Data. doi:10.1038/s41597-026-08160-9

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Abstract

A thriving fishing industry, that sustains livelihoods whilst sustainably exploiting marine resources, requires policy and management decisions that consider social sustainability objectives alongside environmental and economic objectives. Currently there is no robust monitoring of social conditions and the motivations and attitudes of commercial fishers in the UK. To address this gap, we compiled a dataset from a survey on a sample (N = 435) of the commercial fishing vessel owners and skippers in England. The survey collected data on respondents’ fishing activity, job satisfaction and job security, perception of and engagement with fisheries management, health and wellbeing and demographic profile. Analyses of these data will enable scholars, policymakers, fisheries managers and the fishing industry to gain valuable insights about the social conditions and opinions of English commercial fishers and will provide a baseline for future longitudinal surveys to monitor change in social conditions over time. Such data will contribute to delivery of the ‘social sustainability’ objective of the Fisheries Act (2020).

Item Type:	Article
Article Type:	Article
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) S Agriculture > SH Aquaculture. Fisheries. Angling
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > Countryside and Community Research Institute
Depositing User:	Nick Lewis
Date Deposited:	26 Oct 2026 11:28
Last Modified:	26 Oct 2026 11:45
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/16610

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