The Renaissance of East Anglian Fisheries (REAF) has announced a new partnership with leading marine conservation charity, the Blue Marine Foundation (BLUE).

REAF is a community-led organisation established in 2018 to develop a long-term strategy for marine fisheries off the East Anglian coast. The REAF Strategy was publicly launched at Westminster in 2019, and following the disruption caused by the Covid19 pandemic, and publication of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the REAF organisation is working to develop the capacity required to deliver its eleven recommendations for a sustainable and profitable future for the East Anglian fishing industry.

The partnership with BLUE is a significant milestone for REAF as the fledgling organisation embarks on a period of growth, drawing new membership from the fisheries and seafood sector, and building on its growing reputation as a credible representative of the industry across Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex.

The Chairman of the REAF Steering Group, Peter Aldous MP said:

“REAF is extremely grateful to Hopkins Homes and BLUE for making the partnership possible. It is an exciting time and means that REAF can draw on BLUE’s expertise in sustainable fisheries management and marine conservation, and work with us to help shape the future of East Anglian fisheries.”

Hopkins Homes, the largest privately owned housebuilder in East Anglia, has supported the partnership, enabling REAF to recruit an Interim Programme Manager who will engage with the fishing and seafood sector to grow membership, establish REAF as an incorporated organisation, and develop the short and medium term work programme.

James Hopkins of Hopkins Homes said,

“As a Regional Company the work we do with our local communities across Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex is important to us. We are delighted to be supporting this new partnership that will ensure the local economy of our fishing communities and gives greater protection to the marine environment.”

The Renaissance of East Anglian Fisheries (REAF) is a fledgling community-led organisation drawing its membership from the fisheries and seafood sector across Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex. REAF’s goal is to ensure ‘a sustainable and profitable future for the East Anglian fishing industry’.