APPOINTMENT OF THE CHAIR FOR:
 THE SCOTTISH WEST COAST REGIONAL INSHORE FISHERIES
GROUP
 THE SCOTTISH NORTH & EAST COAST REGIONAL INSHORE
FISHERIES GROUP
Two individual appointments are to be made.
Two Regional Inshore Fisheries Groups (IFGs) are being established to cover
the mainland coast of Scotland. One will cover the West Coast and one will
cover the North and East Coasts. Each Regional IFG will be chaired by an
independent Chair appointed by Marine Scotland. The following is an outline
of the job description and person specification for the Chair role. Background
information on IFGs can be found at www.ifgs.org.uk.
ROLE DESCRIPTION
The Chair will be required to oversee the establishment and developing
operations of the Regional IFG, guiding and steering it in a way which ensures
cohesive, coherent and well-functioning regional and sub-regional groups.
The Chair will lead further development of the management plans for inshore
fisheries, based on the views arrived at by the Regional IFG. The
implementation of such an agreed plan within an area will be driven by the
leadership of the Chair. Where Scottish Marine Region Marine Planning
Partnerships are formed within the IFG region, the Chair will take a lead in
representing the fisheries activities as defined within the Regional IFG’s
fisheries management plan.
The Chair will also be expected to recognise Marine Scotland policies and
priorities relating to inshore fisheries and the implications for the development
of regional or local management provisions. The Chair will lead the Regional
IFG through regular formal and informal meetings with stakeholders within the
region. The Chair will also act as the representative for the Regional IFG at
meetings of the Inshore Fisheries Management and Conservation (IFMAC)
group, which is held annually with wider marine stakeholders.
Each Regional IFG has an operational structure comprising:
a) A Management Committee, consisting of commercial fishing interests
drawn from the Fishermen’s Associations that operate in the area;
where appropriate, representatives of fishermen who operate in the
area but who are not members of an association; and individual
fishermen. Wider fishing industry representation includes fish
processors and distributors reliant on the successful sustainable
exploitation of local or regional fish stocks. The Management
Committee will be advised by a range of interested parties, including
Scottish Government and agency officials (Marine Scotland, Scottish
Natural Heritage, Scottish Environmental Protection Agency etc.).
NGOs and interest groups will attend Management Committee
meetings at the invitation of the Chair.
b) An Executive Board, which the Chair may convene at the behest of
Regional IFG members to deal with governance and financial issues.
The Executive Board may be established to progress fisheries or
related projects, potentially in partnership with regional funding bodies.
c) Working Groups, which will focus on specific local management issues
and may be topic or geographically focused and time limited. It is
anticipated that the Chair will spend time at the coast hosting a number
of output focused working groups established with the support of local
fishing industry operators.
The Chair should be independent in the discharge of their duties and have no
direct connection with the fishing sector represented on the Regional IFG. It is
desirable, although not essential, that the Chair have some knowledge of the
inshore fishing industry.
Marine Scotland will support the role of the Chair by arranging for the
provision of administrative support for convening and organising meetings.
DUTIES
The Chair will have both a leadership and a representational role. They will be
expected to:

Lead the Regional IFG towards its primary goal of achieving
sustainable management of inshore fisheries in the region

Manage the Regional IFG’s business, providing clear direction and
focus on its remit, aims and objectives, promoting constructive debate
and effective decision making at meetings

Gain an understanding of Marine Scotland policies and priorities
relating to inshore fisheries and ensure these are taken into account in
the Regional IFG’s decision making process

Be responsible for the Regional IFG’s governance (including financial
governance), ensuring that meetings are properly structured, run
smoothly and follow an agreed agenda, developing a productive
relationship between and amongst the Members, acting as an ‘honest
broker’ and mediator when problems and conflicts arise

Be responsible for the deployment of administrative support to ensure
the effective delivery of meetings within budgetary provisions for the
Regional IFG

Represent regional inshore fishing interests in meetings with
government officials and Ministers, relevant Scottish Marine Region
Marine Planning Partnerships, and IFMAC

Engage regularly with fishermen at the coast within the region

Produce reports from time to time on the Regional IFG’s activities
PERSONAL SPECIFICATION

Ability to lead and obtain consensus

Experience of chairing boards or committees

Good communication skills, including ability to liaise effectively with
industry, Government, the public and media

Desirable, but not essential, to have some knowledge of the inshore
fishing industry
PROCESS
Chairs will be appointed by Marine Scotland through an open recruitment
process.
The appointment of each Chair will be for a fixed period of 18 months in the
first instance and on a part time basis of up to 3 days per week.