Moving with the Tide of the Tyne the social implications of the EU Common Fisheries Policy on the fishing community in North Shields, UK

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ABSTRACT The EU's common fisheries policy (CFP) has successfully reduced the size of the fishing fleet and the amount and type of fish landed. However, these interventions have had significant social consequences for fishers and their communities that are often overlooked. This article focuses on how social dynamics within fishing communities are shaped by the EU CFP, with a particular focus on the longstanding and well-known fishing town of North Shields in the UK. Ethnographic field research conducted between 2017 and 2020 reveals a significant exodus of fishers from the industry, with the remaining individuals experiencing dramatic changes in their lives. Their social relationships, identity, sense of place, and even the fabric of the town itself were profoundly affected. The findings will contribute to the development of more socially inclusive interventions and policy-making in the fisheries sector.