Regional Inshore Fisheries Groups (RIFGs) are collaborative bodies established to strengthen the management of Scotland’s inshore fisheries (out to 12 nautical miles) and ensure commercial inshore fishermen have a strong voice in wider marine management.
Initially, six pilot Inshore Fisheries Groups (IFGs) were created in 2009, each developing a management plan for its area. These were replaced in 2013 by six IFGs covering most of Scotland’s coast, excluding Shetland which operates under its own arrangements.
In April 2016, the West Coast and North & East Coast RIFGs were formed, consolidating the previous IFGs, alongside the Outer Hebrides RIFG, Orkney Management Group, and Shetland Shellfish Management Organisation.
In 2020, as part of the Future Fisheries Management (FFM) policy, the scope of RIFGs was extended to cover the full 12 nautical mile limit.
In 2025, the network was restructured to improve regional representation. A new North & North West RIFG now covers the area from Ardnamurchan Point northwards around the west coast and up to Inverness, including the Inner Hebrides north of Ardnamurchan Point. The East Coast RIFG boundary was adjusted and now starts at Inverness and runs clockwise down the east coast to the English border, creating a clearer separation from the new North & North West region. The current RIFG network comprises: North & North West Coast, East Coast, South West Coast, Outer Hebrides, Orkney, and Shetland (operating alongside the Shetland Shellfish Management Organisation