The minister visited North Shields fish market to meet people working throughout the supply chain, and heard how a Business in the Community project is helping to make the local fishing industry more viable.
The minister later met Hartlepool fishermen taking part in a £280,000 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs project to study the environmental impact of England's inshore fleet.
Skippers of nine trawlers fitted with electronic monitoring equipment record information including types of nets used, catches, what they throw back and fuel consumption. Fishermen can sell any fish caught as part of the science project as long as it is above the minimum landing size.
Huw Irranca-Davies said "I was impressed by the hard work being done by people throughout the region's seafood industry to produce social, economic and environmental benefits.
"The project between fishermen and scientists will give us vital information that will help safeguard stocks and help improve the way we manage fisheries.
"I know that many fishermen are facing hard times, and I want to work with them so that we get the industry on a sustainable footing. More than £60 million is available to help the industry adapt to rising fuel costs and pay for improvements to help fishing communities and businesses prosper long term."
