<p>In this paper we delve into the history of fisheries social sciences in Europe. We reflect, on the 30th anniversary of its start date, on the works of the European Social Science Fisheries Network (ESSFiN) and its contribution to the development and integration of social science expertise and research within fisheries management. In the late 1990s, ESSFiN succeeded in plugging the institutional gap, providing an opportunity to demonstrate the extent, breadth and relevance of the social sciences' potential to an understanding of issues in the organisation and governance of marine fisheries in Europe. It helped change the course of fisheries social sciences <i>and</i> became the standard bearer for an applied social approach to fisheries governance and management, and its value to the growing focus on multi-disciplinary research. ESSFiN had long lasting contributions in terms of substantive insights and agendas, capacity building within the marine social sciences and policy impacts, but crucially also potentially offers insights relevant to current and future challenges in the field.</p>