Mobilising cultural heritage in UK marine fisheries

Maritime cultural heritage is embedded in the practice of small-scale fishing: traditional ecological knowledge, maritime landscapes, historic landing places, traditional vessels, and all their associated skills and material culture. The fishing sector is going through transitions post-Brexit on top of environmental, generational and technological changes that are likely to further diminish the tangible and intangible heritage of fishing. How can we use this cultural legacy to drive greater sustainability within fisheries management before it is too late?

Aims and objectives (What research questions the project will address)

The research questions the project will address include:

Investigation of the historical and cultural practices and knowledge that continue to exist and be associated with UK fishing communities, as well as practices that no longer take place, but which exist in memory, through associated activities, and embodied in historic artefacts, buildings and landscapes. Approaches will also explore why and how evidence of fishing practices have changed (or remained the same) over time.

Assessment of the benefits that were or are gained from these practices at the individual and community levels, including economic, cultural, built environment and provisioning benefits.

Exploration of the values and narratives associated with continuing traditions and/or heritage practices within fishing communities, and to what extent these differ across communities.

To answer these research questions, several complementary approaches will be used including historical, archaeological and ethnographical methods. A case study approach will be taken, whereby 2 to 3 geographically and culturally diverse fishing communities will be selected for detailed interrogation. The exact locations will be determined based upon student interest and ability to travel but will include both Scottish and English locations.