National Marine Fisheries Service

07/16/2026 | News release | Distributed by Public on 07/16/2026 14:28

First International Cooperative Research Gathering with Scotland a Smashing Success

Last month, we hosted 16 members of the Scottish Fishermen's Organisation in NOAA Fisheries' first-ever international cooperative research knowledge exchange. Scotland is currently revising some of their national fisheries policies. The organization visited the Northeast to learn about commercial fishing in the region and how cooperative research can support fisheries.

"Our organisation understands the value of cooperative research and has always been an advocate for a structured approach to dealing with scientific and management challenges in Scottish fisheries," said John Anderson, chief executive officer of the organization. "While we do engage in some cooperative research in Scotland, there are real opportunities to develop a more cohesive and strategic approach to dealing with knowledge gaps and challenges in our fisheries-similar to the model being used in the Northeast."

We share several managed fisheries species: dogfish, Atlantic cod, Atlantic pollock, haddock, Atlantic mackerel, Atlantic herring, shortfin and longfin squid. The visit was an important opportunity to share and learn from each other.

Three-Day Tour de Force

During the 3-day event, participants visited four ports, touring 12 commercial fishing vessels and six seafood processing facilities and dealers. They watched vessels offloading catch, saw how it's processed, and learned how dealers sell their seafood. "We curated vessel tours to feature a mix of sizes and gear types, focusing on fisheries shared by the United States and Scotland," explained Cooperative Research Branch Chief Anna Mercer. "We also spotlighted vessels actively participating in cooperative research, from environmental monitoring to industry-based surveys."

"It was interesting to see how some vessels also own processing plants. They catch and process fish, and either export it or supply it to local restaurants. That was really impressive. That [vertical integration] doesn't happen in Scotland," said Peter Lovie, captain of the F/V Endeavour V BF 515 and one of the organization's directors

Participants also toured Superior Trawl, a local net manufacturer in Point Judith, Rhode Island. They visited the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center to learn more about the history of commercial fishing in our region.

Each day, organization members joined industry partners for roundtable discussions with scientists, fisheries managers, academics, and nonprofit organizations on how collaborative research can support and improve fisheries management. We shared a few of our most successful cooperative research projects, including:

These programs work with industry to help fill data gaps, improve communication between scientists and fishermen, and inform management decisions.

Participants also exchanged ideas on industry practices and engagement, electronic monitoring, fisheries observers, opportunities to strengthen collaboration, and more. Mercer explained, "The Northeast's fishing and cooperative research communities are rich with diverse perspectives and unique experiences. Our goal was to unite these distinct voices, providing the organisation with a holistic view of regional challenges and opportunities, alongside actionable recommendations."

Shared Challenges, Shared Solutions

Throughout the visit, key takeaways highlighted that many fisheries challenges are common on both sides of the Atlantic, including:

  • Trust between fishermen and scientists
  • Graying of the fleet and low recruitment of the next generation
  • Barriers to entry
  • Fleet consolidation and spatial squeeze
  • Limited socioeconomic consideration in management decisions
  • Reduced funding for fisheries research
  • Science-to-management lags and non-adaptive management

There were tough, but much-needed discussions about trust. Participants agreed that involving industry early and directly in research helps incorporate fishermen's expertise into study design, data collection, and interpretation, and builds confidence in scientific results. "We fishermen want to contribute more towards science for the future-future generations and the sustainability of the stocks…funding fisheries research is really important for our future" said Peter Lovie, captain of the F/V Endeavour V BF 515 and one of the organization's directors.

Paulo Cristelo, captain of the F/V Princess Scarlett out of New Bedford, Massachusetts, shared how participating in cooperative research has expanded his own understanding of fisheries science. He's contributed to several projects, including:

Paulo Cristelo says working alongside scientists allows him to advise with his experience as a captain and vessel rigger and learn from the scientists along the way. "Together, we can protect and preserve our fisheries while fishing smartly. If we start from common ground-that we both want to fish efficiently, sustainably, and preserve the ocean-we can achieve great results."

Retired captain of the F/V Frigate Bird TT 137 and one of the organisation directors Kenneth "Kenny" MacNab agreed, "Trust has been a big problem in Scotland, too, especially between government scientists and fishermen. It's improving, but it should improve faster for the sake of the fisheries."

Participants discussed adaptive fisheries management highlighting the need for iterative and flexible approaches that can respond more quickly to scientific data, changing environmental conditions, and socioeconomic factors. Organization members noted that updating fisheries regulations can be a slow process, making it difficult for management to keep pace with changing fisheries.Organization members saw immense value in collecting and using environmental data to improve predictive modeling and how it might be used for adaptive management. "This line of research is also emerging in Scotland, but has not yet progressed to the level it has in the Northeast," said organisation science and policy officer Paul Macdonald. "Any data collection that can help us better understand what drives variability in fish populations and fisheries will help refine our management process and make it more adaptable."

Despite the challenges, participants didn't feel that they were insurmountable. Many expressed that scientists and fishermen working collaboratively to fill data and knowledge gaps is the path forward.

"We're encouraged to see the level of cooperation between fishermen and scientists during our visit. That seems to be something that's growing…That gives us heart because although we're doing some, we feel we could be doing much more," said George West, retired captain of the F/V Resolute and vice chairman of the Scottish organisation, "We see that as the way forward because fishermen have so much knowledge and time at sea. Scientists of course have their own expertise that can help fisheries and fishermen. There's just so much mileage in cooperative research."

Surprising Revelations

Many organization members were fascinated with the squid fishery and our cooperative research projects on squid. Peter Lovie was particularly interested: "The discussions about your squid research-how much it's contributing to what you currently know about squid stocks-have been eye opening." He explained they're seeing an increase in squid abundance and it's become a new and important fishery for Scotland. "We have both shortfin and longfin squid species in Scotland, neither of which have any quota limits. The majority of our catches are longfin and we have reasonable markets for them. We get some catches of shortfin, but these are currently a lost opportunity as we just throw them back due to a lack of market. Some of us will be going back to Scotland and looking into it. I'm hopeful we can get a market for them."

Value of Collaboration

Throughout the visit, it was clear that cooperative research can provide a practical framework for addressing shared fisheries challenges by combining fishermen's knowledge with scientific expertise. Open and honest discussions highlighted the value of collaborative research to improve fisheries science, build trust, and support informed, adaptive management.

Organization members commended the Northeast's structured approach to collaboration among industry, science, and government. Hearing perspectives from so many different industry voices gave them a more complete picture of cooperative research and the opportunities it can help create.

Fisheries in the Northeast and Scotland continue to face changing environmental and management conditions. Collaboration through cooperative research offers valuable opportunities to improve scientific understanding and support sustainable fisheries on both sides of the Atlantic.

A Note of Thanks

We thank all of the participants for showing up, sharing their perspectives, and digging into some tough conversations. We especially thank our cooperative research partners who participated in this event, led vessels tours, shared their fishing and fisheries knowledge and experiences, and provided their insight on cooperative research:

National Marine Fisheries Service published this content on July 16, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on July 16, 2026 at 20:28 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]