Management Of The Scottish Inshore Fisheries; Assessing The Options For Change

An analysis of the impacts from different options for the management of the Scottish Inshore fisheries. In particular, the report provides an appraisal of scenarios related to restrictions on the use of mobile fishing gears within one and three nautical m


15 THE BASELINE: SHETLAND

15.1 Introduction to Area

The Lerwick Fishery Office has responsibility for the ports of Lerwick ( FO*) Central Mainland, Northmavine, S Mainland, Fair Isle, Scalloway, Skerries, West Mainland, Whalsay, Yellr, Fetla and Unst. Although Marine Scotland has a presence, inshore fisheries management has been delegated to local interests (see below)

15.2 Active Vessels by District and Gear Type

Table 15.2. Shetland Active Vessels by Gear Type

10m & under Nephrop Trawls 3
Creel fishing 114
Other2 18
Total 135
Over 10m Pelagic Purse seine -
Pelagic trawl 8
Other -
Total 8
Demersal Trawl 18
Seine 5
Lines -
Other4 -
Total 23
Shellfish Nephrop trawls 2
Creel fishing 2
Other 7
Total 11
Total Over10 m 42
Total All Vessel 177

Source Scottish Sea Fisheries Statistics 2012 , Table 2.5

15.3 Shetland Employment

Table 15.3 Shetland Catching Sector Employment

Regularly Employed Irregularly Employed Total
231 201 432-

Source Scottish Sea Fisheries Statistics 2012

15.4 Shetland Landings

Table 15.4 Shetland Landings by All Vessels and Scottish Vessels

All Vessels Scottish Vessels
Total demersal Total pelagic Total shellfish Total landings (£'000) Total Landings (£ '000)
£21,536 £33,632 £3,955 £59,124 44,604

Source Scottish Sea Fisheries Statistics 2012 , Tables 1.6 and 1.7

15.5 Legislation & Regulations specific to the IFG Area

Following long standing concerns about the lack of management and increases in inshore effort directed at shellfish, local Shetland interests were successful in obtaining a Regulating Order granting the Shetland Shellfish Management Organisation ( SSMO) the legal right to manage the commercial shellfisheries within the 0-6 NM zone (lobsters, crabs, scallops, queens, whelks, razorshells, cockles, mussels and oysters) The Order gives the SSMO powers to issue licences, levy tolls to impose restrictions and regulations The SSMO itself is a partnership of local stakeholders with an interest in shellfish. The SSMO's main objectives are to ensure the long-term sustainability of these fisheries, to promote the recovery of shellfish stocks and to promote the environmental sustainability of Shetland's shellfish fisheries.

The SSMO licence system has a number of key features:

  • Licences are valid for one calendar year.
  • Licences will normally be renewed except where the licensee(s) or the vessel fails to satisfy the SSMO regulations.
  • Licensees will not be entitled to any compensation if the licence is not renewed.
  • Licences may not be traded.
  • Licences are only transferrable between people or vessels with the written authority of the SSMO.
  • If the vessel named on a licence is sold then the licence shall expire immediately. At the SSMO discretion a new licence will normally be issued to the owner of the vessel sold for a replacement vessel of comparable size and fishing power.
  • All licensees must complete and submit a monthly (confidential) logsheet or book to the Organisation by the 7th day of every month.
  • There is a general presumption will be that the transfer of the licence to the new vessel should not result in an increase in fishing capacity. If so, the SSMO will normally approve the transfer of the licence to the new vessel.
  • At its discretion the SSMO may approve the transfer of a licence to a vessel which is of greater size, capacity and/or fishing power if it considers that this would not have an adverse effect on shellfish stocks.

The SSMO regulations include the following:

  • A licence will not be issued in respect of a vessel, nor may that vessel be used to dredge, fish for, or take any of the prescribed species within the area covered by the Regulating Order, if it exceeds 17 metres in overall length (as stated on the vessel's domestic fishing licence – issued by a UK Fisheries Department - and registration certificate), except where the vessel is used wholly to dredge for scallops (in which case no vessel size limit applies).
  • No vessel which is used to dredge for scallops may use or carry onboard more than two tow-bars with a combined overall length, or a single tow bar with an overall length, of more than 8.80 metres, or more than a total of 10 scallop dredges.
  • Any vessel that was using more than 10 but not more than 14 dredges, between the 1st of January 2001 and the 31st of December 2001, and for which log sheets showing the number of dredges in use were submitted to the Organisation during that period, may apply to the Organisation for a dispensation to this regulation to allow them to continue using their existing tow-bar(s) and dredges. Any dispensation granted will not be transferable to any other vessel or licensee and will lapse when the licence is surrendered.
  • The use of any form of hydraulic or suction dredge, or any similar type of gear, to dredge, fish for, or take any of the prescribed species within the area covered by the Order is prohibited.
  • The use of French dredges to dredge, fish for or take any of the prescribed species within the area covered by the Order is prohibited. (A French dredge means a scallop dredge of the type known as "a French dredge" incorporating paravanes, diving plates, pressure plates, water deflecting plates or any similar device and having rigid fixed teeth)
  • The buoys attached to any static fishing gear being used to fish for or take any of the prescribed species within the area covered by the Order must be brightly coloured and clearly marked with the vessel's name and registration number.
  • The minimum landings size for whelks will be 75 mm overall shell length.
  • Fishing for velvet crabs every SSMO licenced creel vessel must tie up for a minimum consecutive 8 week period during the months of June to September inclusive.
  • The minimum landings size for velvet crabs (Necora puber) will be 70 mm carapace width; measured across the broadest part of the carapace, excluding spines.
  • The minimum landings size for lobsters (Homarus gammarus) will be 90 mm carapace length; measured parallel to the mid-line from the back of either eye socket to the distal edge of the carapace.
  • No vessel may use a scallop dredge or dredges, or may dredge, fish for or take scallops or queen scallops, before 0600 hours (local time) or after 2100 hours (local time) on any day.
  • UK size brown crab 140 mm

The next section reports the catch estimates derived through our manipulation of VMS and the SSMO maps of fishing activity.

15.6 Shetland Baseline Estimates ( IFG 7)

15.6.1 Shetland Zone 0-1 nm

Table 15.6.1 IFG 7: Catch Value by Gear Type by Vessels 15m or Under in 0-1 NM zone

Shetland 1nm DEMERSAL PELAGIC NEPHROPS SCALLOPS OTHER SHELLFISH TOTAL
Demersal Trawl Val £6,398 £0 £0 £0 £0 £6,398
Nephrops Trawl Val £0 £0 £1,695 £0 £0 £1,695
Pelagic Lines Val £0 £4,351 £0 £0 £0 £4,351
Dredge Val £0 £0 £0 £1,550,920 £0 £1,550,920
Pots Val £0 £0 £0 £0 £952,175 £952,175
Hand Dive Val £0 £0 £0 £0 £0 £0
Total Val £6,398 £4,351 £1,695 £1,550,920 £952,175 £2,515,539

Table 15.6.2 IFG 7: Catch Value and Volume by Gear Type by Vessels Over 15m in 0-1 NM zone

Shetland 1nm DEMERSAL PELAGIC NEPHROPS KING SCALLOPS QUEEN SCALLOPS OTHER SHELLFISH TOTAL
Demersal
Trawl
Val £860,259 £34 £3,164 £0 £0 £32,823 £896,279
Vol 477 0 0 0 0 8 485
Nephrops
Trawl
Val £158 £0 £834 £0 £0 £0 £991
Vol 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Pelagic
Trawl
Val £0 £2,058,859 £0 £0 £0 £0 £2,058,859
Vol 0 1,481 0 0 0 0 1,481
Other
Trawl
Val £190 £0 £0 £0 £0 £11,188 £11,379
Vol 0 0 0 0 0 2 3
Dredge Val £0 £0 £0 £79,589 £0 £0 £79,589
Vol 0 0 0 44 0 0 44
Pots Val £0 £0 £0 £0 £0 £0 £0
Vol 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total Val £860,607 £2,058,893 £3,997 £79,589 £0 £44,012 £3,047,097
Vol 478 1,481 1 44 0 10 2,013

Table 15.6.3 IFG 7: Catch Value by Gear Type by all Vessels in 0-1 NM zone

Shetland 1nm DEMERSAL PELAGIC NEPHROPS SCALLOPS OTHER SHELLFISH TOTAL
Demersal Trawl Val £866,657 £34 £3,164 £0 £32,823 £902,677
Nephrops Trawl Val £158 £0 £2,529 £0 £0 £2,686
Pelagic Trawl Val £0 £2,058,859 £0 £0 £0 £2,058,859
Pelagic Lines Val £0 £4,351 £0 £0 £0 £4,351
Other Trawl Val £190 £0 £0 £0 £11,188 £11,379
Dredge Val £0 £0 £0 £1,630,509 £0 £1,630,509
Pots Val £0 £0 £0 £0 £952,175 £952,175
Hand Dive Val £0 £0 £0 £0 £0 £0
Total Val £867,005 £2,063,243 £5,692 £1,630,509 £996,187 £5,562,636

15.6.2 Shetland Zone 0-3 nm

Table 15.6.4 IFG 7: Catch Value by Gear Type by Vessels 15m or Under in 0-3 NM zone

Shetland 3nm DEMERSAL PELAGIC NEPHROPS SCALLOPS OTHER SHELLFISH TOTAL
Demersal Trawl Val £44,788 £0 £0 £0 £0 £44,788
Nephrops Trawl Val £0 £0 £11,865 £0 £0 £11,865
Pelagic Lines Val £0 £30,454 £0 £0 £0 £30,454
Dredge Val £0 £0 £0 £2,469,984 £0 £2,469,984
Pots Val £0 £0 £0 £0 £1,436,068 £1,436,068
Hand Dive Val £0 £0 £0 £0 £0 £0
Total Val £44,788 £30,454 £11,865 £2,469,984 £1,436,068 £3,993,159

Table 15.6.5 IFG 7: Catch Value and Volume by Gear Type by Vessels Over 15m in 0-3 NM zone

Shetland 3nm DEMERSAL PELAGIC NEPHROPS KING SCALLOPS QUEEN SCALLOPS OTHER SHELLFISH TOTAL
Demersal
Trawl
Val £2,202,237 £109 £13,654 £0 £0 £90,956 £2,306,956
Vol 1,259 0 2 0 0 20 1,281
Nephrops
Trawl
Val £1,792 £0 £5,323 £0 £0 £57 £7,172
Vol 1 0 2 0 0 0 3
Pelagic
Trawl
Val £0 £9,533,519 £0 £0 £0 £0 £9,533,519
Vol 0 6,588 0 0 0 0 6,588
Other
Trawl
Val £1,721 £0 £0 £0 £0 £47,614 £49,335
Vol 1 0 0 0 0 9 10
Dredge Val £2,133 £0 £0 £147,654 £0 £2 £149,790
Vol 1 0 0 82 0 0 84
Pots Val £0 £0 £0 £0 £0 £0 £0
Vol 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total Val £2,207,883 £9,533,628 £18,976 £147,654 £0 £138,630 £12,046,772
Vol 1,262 6,588 4 82 0 30 7,966

Table 15.6.6 IFG 7: Catch Value by Gear Type by all Vessels in 0-3 NM zone

Shetland 3nm DEMERSAL PELAGIC NEPHROPS SCALLOPS OTHER SHELLFISH TOTAL
Demersal Trawl Val £2,247,025 £109 £13,654 £0 £90,956 £2,351,745
Nephrops Trawl Val £1,792 £0 £17,188 £0 £57 £19,037
Pelagic Trawl Val £0 £9,533,519 £0 £0 £0 £9,533,519
Pelagic Lines Val £0 £30,454 £0 £0 £0 £30,454
Other Trawl Val £1,721 £0 £0 £0 £47,614 £49,335
Dredge Val £2,133 £0 £0 £2,617,638 £2 £2,619,773
Pots Val £0 £0 £0 £0 £1,436,068 £1,436,068
Hand Dive Val £0 £0 £0 £0 £0 £0
Total Val £2,252,672 £9,564,082 £30,841 £2,617,638 £1,574,697 £16,039,931

15.6.3 Shetland Zone 0-6 nm

Table 15.6.7 IFG 7: Catch Value by Gear Type by Vessels 15m or under in 0-6 NM zone

Shetland 6nm DEMERSAL PELAGIC NEPHROPS SCALLOPS OTHER SHELLFISH TOTAL
Demersal Trawl Val £127,967 £0 £0 £0 £0 £127,967
Nephrops Trawl Val £0 £0 £33,900 £0 £0 £33,900
Pelagic Lines Val £0 £87,012 £0 £0 £0 £87,012
Dredge Val £0 £0 £0 £2,872,074 £0 £2,872,074
Pots Val £0 £0 £0 £0 £1,560,943 £1,560,943
Hand Dive Val £0 £0 £0 £0 £0 £0
Total Val £127,967 £87,012 £33,900 £2,872,074 £1,560,943 £4,681,896

Table 15.6.8 IFG 7: Catch Value and Volume by Gear Type by Vessels Over 15m in 0-6 NM zone

Shetland 6nm DEMERSAL PELAGIC NEPHROPS KING SCALLOPS QUEEN SCALLOPS OTHER SHELLFISH TOTAL
Demersal
Trawl
Val £3,732,331 £264 £30,184 £0 £0 £116,507 £3,879,286
Vol 3,694 4 266 0 0 61 4,025
Nephrops
Trawl
Val £5,458 £0 £15,020 £0 £0 £97 £20,575
Vol 3 0 5 0 0 0 9
Pelagic
Trawl
Val £0 £23,712,119 £0 £0 £0 £0 £23,712,119
Vol 0 16,418 0 0 0 0 16,418
Other
Trawl
Val £2,092 £300,858 £0 £0 £0 £49,516 £352,466
Vol 1 212 0 0 0 10 223
Dredge Val £2,826 £0 £0 £150,811 £0 £5 £153,642
Vol 2 0 0 84 0 0 86
Pots Val £0 £0 £0 £0 £0 £0 £0
Vol 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total Val £3,742,707 £24,013,241 £45,204 £150,811 £0 £166,125 £28,118,089
Vol 3,701 16,635 271 84 0 70 20,760

Table 15.6.9 IFG 7: Catch Value by Gear Type by all Vessels in 0-6 NM zone

Shetland 6nm DEMERSAL PELAGIC NEPHROPS SCALLOPS OTHER SHELLFISH TOTAL
Demersal Trawl Val £3,860,298 £264 £30,184 £0 £116,507 £4,007,253
Nephrops Trawl Val £5,458 £0 £48,920 £0 £97 £54,475
Pelagic Trawl Val £0 £23,712,119 £0 £0 £0 £23,712,119
Pelagic Lines Val £0 £87,012 £0 £0 £0 £87,012
Other Trawl Val £2,092 £300,858 £0 £0 £49,516 £352,466
Dredge Val £2,826 £0 £0 £3,022,885 £5 £3,025,716
Pots Val £0 £0 £0 £0 £1,560,943 £1,560,943
Hand Dive Val £0 £0 £0 £0 £0 £0
Total Val £3,870,674 £24,100,253 £79,104 £3,022,885 £1,727,068 £32,799,985

15.6.4 Shetland Zone 0-12 nm

Table 15.6.10 IFG 7: Catch Value by Gear Type by Vessels 15m or under in 0-12 NM zone

Shetland 12nm DEMERSAL PELAGIC NEPHROPS SCALLOPS OTHER SHELLFISH TOTAL
Demersal Trawl Val £127,967 £0 £0 £0 £0 £127,967
Nephrops Trawl Val £0 £0 £33,900 £0 £0 £33,900
Pelagic Lines Val £0 £87,012 £0 £0 £0 £87,012
Dredge Val £0 £0 £0 £2,872,074 £0 £2,872,074
Pots Val £0 £0 £0 £0 £1,560,943 £1,560,943
Hand Dive Val £0 £0 £0 £0 £0 £0
Total Val £127,967 £87,012 £33,900 £2,872,074 £1,560,943 £4,681,896

Table 15.6.11 IFG 7: Catch Value and Volume by Gear Type by Vessels Over 15m in 0-12 NM zone

Shetland 12nm DEMERSAL PELAGIC NEPHROPS KING SCALLOPS QUEEN SCALLOPS OTHER SHELLFISH TOTAL
Demersal
Trawl
Val £10,043,365 £643 £69,144 £0 £0 £202,680 £10,315,832
Vol 5,627 0 11 0 0 51 5,689
Nephrops
Trawl
Val £18,825 £0 £38,311 £0 £0 £165 £57,302
Vol 12 0 13 0 0 0 25
Pelagic
Trawl
Val £0 £49,631,099 £0 £0 £0 £0 £49,631,099
Vol 0 34,547 0 0 0 0 34,547
Other
Trawl
Val £4,154 £902,573 £0 £0 £0 £53,332 £960,059
Vol 3 636 0 0 0 10 649
Dredge Val £7,735 £0 £0 £151,174 £0 £37 £158,946
Vol 4 0 0 84 0 0 89
Pots Val £0 £0 £0 £0 £0 £0 £0
Vol 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total Val £10,074,080 £50,534,315 £107,456 £151,174 £0 £256,214 £61,123,239
Vol 5,645 35,184 24 84 0 62 40,999

Table 15.6.12 IFG 7: Catch Value by Gear Type by all Vessels in 0-12 NM zone

Shetland 12nm DEMERSAL PELAGIC NEPHROPS SCALLOPS OTHER SHELLFISH TOTAL
Demersal Trawl Val £10,171,332 £643 £69,144 £0 £202,680 £10,443,799
Nephrops Trawl Val £18,825 £0 £72,211 £0 £165 £91,202
Pelagic Trawl Val £0 £49,631,099 £0 £0 £0 £49,631,099
Pelagic Lines Val £0 £87,012 £0 £0 £0 £87,012
Other Trawl Val £4,154 £902,573 £0 £0 £53,332 £960,059
Dredge Val £7,735 £0 £0 £3,023,248 £37 £3,031,020
Pots Val £0 £0 £0 £0 £1,560,943 £1,560,943
Hand Dive Val £0 £0 £0 £0 £0 £0
Total Val £10,202,047 £50,621,327 £141,356 £3,023,248 £1,817,157 £65,805,135

15.6.5 Shetland Summary Tables

Table 15.6.13 IFG 7 Catch Value by Gear Type From Shore to Zones Outer Limits

Shetland 1nm % 3nm % 6nm % 12nm %
Demersal Trawl £902,677 16.2% £2,351,745 14.7% £4,007,253 12.2% £10,443,799 15.9%
Nephrops Trawl £2,686 0.0% £19,037 0.1% £54,475 0.2% £91,202 0.1%
Pelagic Trawl £2,058,859 37.0% £9,533,519 59.4% £23,712,119 72.3% £49,631,099 75.4%
Pelagic Lines £4,351 0.1% £30,454 0.2% £87,012 0.3% £87,012 0.1%
Other Trawl £11,379 0.2% £49,335 0.3% £352,466 1.1% £960,059 1.5%
Dredge £1,630,509 29.3% £2,619,773 16.3% £3,025,716 9.2% £3,031,020 4.6%
Pots £952,175 17.1% £1,436,068 9.0% £1,560,943 4.8% £1,560,943 2.4%
Hand Dive £0 0.0% £0 0.0% £0 0.0% £0 0.0%
Total £5,562,636 100.0% £16,039,931 100.0% £32,799,985 100.0% £65,805,135 100.0%
% 8.5% 24.4% 49.8% 100.0%

Table 15.6.14 IFG 7: Catch Value by Gear Type For Each Zone

Shetland 0-1nm % 1-3nm % 3-6nm % 6-12nm %
Demersal Trawl £902,677 16.2% £1,449,067 13.8% £1,655,509 9.9% £6,436,546 19.5%
Nephrops Trawl £2,686 0.0% £16,351 0.2% £35,437 0.2% £36,727 0.1%
Pelagic Trawl £2,058,859 37.0% £7,474,660 71.3% £14,178,600 84.6% £25,918,980 78.5%
Pelagic Lines £4,351 0.1% £26,104 0.2% £56,558 0.3% £0 0.0%
Other Trawl £11,379 0.2% £37,956 0.4% £303,131 1.8% £607,593 1.8%
Dredge £1,630,509 29.3% £989,265 9.4% £405,943 2.4% £5,304 0.0%
Pots £952,175 17.1% £483,892 4.6% £124,875 0.7% £0 0.0%
Hand Dive £0 0.0% £0 0.0% £0 0.0% £0 0.0%
Total £5,562,636 100.0% £10,477,295 100.0% £16,760,054 100.0% £33,005,151 100.0%

Table 15.6.15 IFG 7: Catch Value by Gear Type From Shore to Zones Outer Limits

Shetland 1nm % 3nm % 6nm % 12nm %
Fixed £952,175 17.1% £1,436,068 9.0% £1,560,943 4.8% £1,560,943 2.4%
Mobile £4,606,110 82.8% £14,573,409 90.9% £31,152,030 95.0% £64,157,180 97.5%
Other £4,351 0.1% £30,454 0.2% £87,012 0.3% £87,012 0.1%
Total £5,562,636 100.0% £16,039,931 100.0% £32,799,985 100.0% £65,805,135 100.0%

Table 15.6.16 IFG 7: Catch Value by Vessel Size From Shore to Zones Outer Limits

Shetland 1nm % 3nm % 6nm % 12nm %
Small £2,515,539 45.2% £3,993,159 24.9% £4,681,896 14.3% £4,681,896 7.1%
Large £3,047,097 54.8% £12,046,772 75.1% £28,118,089 85.7% £61,123,239 92.9%
Total £5,562,636 100.0% £16,039,931 100.0% £32,799,985 100.0% £65,805,135 100.0%

Table 15.6.17 IFG 7: Catch Value by Fin Fish and Shellfish From Shore to Zones Outer Limits

Shetland 1nm % 3nm % 6nm % 12nm %
Finfish £2,930,249 52.7% £11,816,754 73.7% £27,970,927 85.3% £60,823,375 92.4%
Shellfish £2,632,388 47.3% £4,223,177 26.3% £4,829,057 14.7% £4,981,761 7.6%
Total £5,562,636 100.0% £16,039,931 100.0% £32,799,985 100.0% £65,805,135 100.0%

Fisheries in Shetland are quite different to those in the other IFG areas.

From the above tables it is estimated that the catch taken in Shetland water by Scottish vessels was valued at £32.79 m of which 16.96% is caught within 1 NM but 48.9% within 0-3 NM.

A total of £5.56m was caught in the 0-1 NM zone, the comparable figures for the 1-3 and 3-6 NM zones were £10.48m and £16.76m. The relatively high catch for the 3-6 NM zone, contrasts with observations on the other IFG areas. In 2011 this was because only in Shetland was there high value pelagic catches so close to the shore. Though these pelagic catches can vary year to year, given the variable distribution of pelagic stocks and where fishing takes place.

Within both the 0-1 and 0-3 NM zone mobile (pelagic) gear was much more significant (83%) than static gear. The catch of 15 m and over vessels was slightly more than the smaller vessels. By way of comparison, in Orkney the larger vessels were insignificant in the 0-1 NM zone.

In the 0-3 NM zone, mobile gear accounted for 91% of the catch. Larger vessels caught 75% of the catch by value.

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