The "21st Century Catch: Practical approaches for sustainable inshore fishing communities" Toolkit is a product of the INTERREG IVa 2 Seas project GIFS (Geography of Inshore Fishing and Sustainability). The partners have worked with local stakeholders and communities to explore the geographical diversity and similarities of fishing ports, harbours and people along the Channel and southern North Sea.

This toolkit is a product of the collaboration and provides a set of methods to help assess the economic, social and cultural importance of inshore fishing while also describing practical approaches for the regeneration of coastal towns. These tools can be used at a range of spatial scales from the local community level to regional or national levels and draw on examples from empirical research, practical applications and creative arts. It describes the rationale behind each method used and gives guidance about where and in what circumstances they might be applicable. Advice is given on how to use the tools, their applicability at different spatial scales, what they can be used for and practical issues such as the resources to implement them (e.g. time and money). It has been developed for anyone interested in the way that inshore fishing is valued economically, socially, culturally and environmentally, and its role for sustainable community development.