Fishery Protection

The Fishery Protection Squadron (FPS) is the oldest front line squadron in the Royal Navy. With a small headquarters staff based in Portsmouth Naval Base, the Squadron comprises 3 River Class Offshore Patrol Vessels in UK waters and one Offshore Patrol Vessel (Helicopter) stationed as the Falkland Isles Patrol Vessel.

The primary task of the Royal Navy, in its role of patrolling UK's Extended Fisheries Zone, is its involvement in the highly emotive and politically sensitive UK and European fishing industry. A new Era: The introduction of the River Class has drawn attention to the FPS, highlighting the valuable task that all ships in the Squadron perform.

These versatile ships are able to operate with helicopters, and could be utilised in the Maritime Counter Terrorism, Anti-drug Surveillance or Pollution Control role in addition to their core tasking of fishery protection. The operational programme of the FPS takes its ships to many ports in the United Kingdom and the West Coast of Europe where they routinely 'fly the flag' and play a key public relations role during port open days and fish festivals. Each ship and every person in the Squadron plays a vital part in sustaining the complex tapestry of our Economic Exclusion Zone control.