Terms Of Reference (TOR) February 2026
Small-Scale Inshore Fisheries Network Steering Group
Terms of Reference February 2026
1. Background
The Inshore Network is a developing, member-led network of small-scale inshore fishermen operating around the coast of England. The Network has been formed to ensure that the voices, interests, and knowledge of small-scale inshore fishermen are recognised, represented, and engaged with by government and other relevant stakeholders.
A temporary Steering Group has been established to oversee the early development of the Network, including securing funding, appointing a Network Coordinator, and designing appropriate governance and organisational structures.
These Terms of Reference set out the purpose, role, responsibilities, and operating procedures of the Steering Group during this development phase.
2. Purpose of the Steering Group
The purpose of the Steering Group is to provide strategic oversight, guidance, and accountability for the development of the Inshore Network, ensuring that it:
Is led by fishermen and inclusive of small-scale inshore fishermen from across England.
Develops clear, transparent, and democratic governance arrangements.
Builds legitimacy and recognition with government and other external stakeholders.
Is established on a sustainable organisational and financial footing.
3. Membership and governance within the Steering Group
Membership
Members of the steering group are volunteers and can be anyone who has signed up to take part in the development of the network via the Express Interest form on the network website English Small Scale Inshore Fisheries Network | Join and Empower Inshore Fisheries. The Steering Group is continually open to new members.
Conduct Expectations
- Behave respectfully and constructively.
- Allow others to contribute without disruption.
- Support the shared purpose of establishing the network.
- Follow meeting procedures and agreed decisions.
- Where possible, give the steering group advance notice of any business you intend to bring up at a meeting.
Decision-Making and meetings
· At least one week’s notice to be given in advance of meetings and or decisions to be made.
· In the absence of a formal constitution, decisions are made by majority vote of the Steering Group (SG) members present. At least 3 SG members must be present to take a vote.
· Decisions can also be made via email if all SG members are copied into the chain and at least 3 responses are received within an agreed time-frame (at least 1 week). Non-responses will be taken to be supportive.
· Decisions can also be made via WhatsApp under the same conditions as per email, should the SG choose to create a WhatsApp group.
Grounds for Removal
A member may be stood down by majority vote if:
- Their conduct is disruptive,
- They undermine the group's purpose,
- They are unable to collaborate within the agreed framework,
- If the group determines membership must be adjusted for operational reasons.
4. Appointing a Network Coordinator
· The SG intend to appoint a coordinator into a 4-6month role to define and set up the structure of the network and steering group. The coordinator will be tasked to work with all those who have signed up to be part of creating the network (as above, through the network website).
· The coordinator’s role is defined in the coordinator job description as an Annex to these ToR.
· The SG will support the recruitment, contracting, and oversight of the self-employed Network Coordinator.
· A start up meeting with the SG will be held to set the initial workstream for the coordinator.
· The coordinator will report to and take their direction from the Steering Group. The Steering group and coordinator will meet at least once per month for the length of the coordinator’s contract and more frequently as appropriate.
· A quorum of at least 3 in the SG is required to direct the actions of the coordinator (as above under decision making for the SG).
The Coordinator’s contract and the PFSA
· The coordinator’s contract will be managed by the Plymouth Fishing and Seafood Association’s CEO Edward Baker who will be supported by a member of the SG, currently Jerry Percy with assistance from PFSA directors if required.
· All contract related communication between the coordinator and E Baker will be copied to the SG and any online meetings recorded with a transcript sent to the SG.
· The Steering Group retains overall responsibility for direction, performance oversight, and accountability of the coordinator.
· The SG will review progress against agreed work plans and deliverables.
5. Communications
All meetings of the SG and SG/coordinator will be recorded on MS Teams and a transcript created and shared with the whole SG.
Communications to the wider network will be ad-hoc as required and approved by the SG.
6. Roles Within the Steering Group
Chair
The Steering Group shall appoint a Chair currently Edward Baker
Responsibilities include:
Convening and chairing meetings.
Acting as a point of contact for the Network and Coordinator.
Ensuring effective functioning of the Steering Group.
Secretary (if appointed)
Responsible for meeting notes, record keeping, and group administration.
7. Conduct and Conflicts of Interest
Members are expected to act with integrity, transparency, and respect
Any actual or potential conflicts of interest must be declared
Where a conflict exists, the member may be asked to withdraw from discussion or decision-making on that issue
8. Review of the Terms of Reference
These Terms of Reference are interim and will be reviewed:
As the Network develops
Prior to the establishment of a permanent governance structure
Amendments require agreement of the Steering Group
9. Duration and Voting in a new Steering Group
The Steering Group will remain in place until a formal, member-approved governance structure for the Inshore Network is established.
· The culmination of the coordinator’s work should result in the formal establishment of a steering group where members are voted in by the wider network.
· At this point the volunteer steering group will step down, and these ToR will become obsolete once replaced by a new ToR and new Steering Group.
Annex 1
Post of Small-Scale Inshore Network Coordinator.
Role
Work with the existing temporary steering group to establish and implement a structure for the network.
To ensure the voices of small-scale inshore fishermen around the country are included in and recognised for their contribution to establishing a recognised network for small-scale inshore fishermen and acknowledged by government.
1. Establish the framework for the organisation considering in particular:
· Members of the organisation
o Is there a criterion for membership?
o Are there membership benefits / voting rights?
· Steering group / committee / board
o What is their structure e.g. do they have a Chair?
o How are they chosen?
o Should they represent areas / fisheries or provide a broader representation?
o What decision making powers do they have?
· Decision making process
o Within the board / steering committee
o By members
· Process for challenging decisions made by the board / committee / wider membership.
· Consider and define the role of a network lead / spokesperson.
2. Contact and discuss the framework structure with all individuals who have signed up to participate in the development of the network.
3. Gather fishermen’s opinion on key initial goals for the network.
4. Create and post content for social media to gain input from fishermen for this work. Support will be available for this via a third party.
5. Consider and support the establishment of the network as an unincorporated organisation.
6. Determine options for establishing the network as an incorporated organisation.
7. Identify funding options and write funding applications to support a longer-term post of Network spokesperson and ongoing development of the network. Include consideration for how that role can be ‘administered / nested within an existing established organisation.
8. All of the above will require communication with fishermen and organisations (government and non-governmental) from around the coast and may therefore require some travel but it is expected that interviews and meetings will where-possible be conducted on the phone / online to reduce costs.
Person Specification
Essential criteria
Proficient IT skills including utilisation of social media tools to communicate and gain feedback from individuals.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Knowledge of potential grant funding schemes and ability to structure grant applications.
Understanding of incorporated society / charity and company structures.
Demonstrable desire and passion for working with and supporting the fishing industry.
Demonstrable leadership and management skills.
Desirable criteria
Previous experience working in and knowledge of the fishing industry, 3+ years.
Demonstrable ability to work with marginalised communities and individuals.
Proven ability to access funding from grants.
Understanding and previous experience accessing other finance options.
Proven experience as a leader of community-based organisations.
Proven experience setting up incorporated and / or un-incorporated organisations.
Contract Conditions / Salary
4 month contract with anticipated delivery at 30 hours per week. £22k
Home based with some travel if required.