Proposed West Coast of Scotland Nephrops and North Sea Nephrops: Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) - consultation

Introduction

The United Kingdom has some of the best wild seafood resources in the world. Our sea fish and shellfish stocks are an important natural resource and are a public asset which generate food and create jobs, as well as providing recreational opportunities in a sector with a strong sense of identity and pride for their communities. These stocks also form a vital part of our marine ecosystems.

Many of our sea fish and shellfish stocks are under a range of pressures such as fishing and climate change. Whilst fishing can bring many socio-economic benefits, it also impacts on our marine environment, for example through accidental bycatch or the effect of fishing gears on the seabed. It is therefore important to consider both the positive and negative effects of fishing as part of overall management of our fisheries and the marine environment.

The Joint Fisheries Statement (JFS) as amended, as required by the Fisheries Act 2020 (the Act), sets out how the UK fisheries authorities (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Scottish Government, Welsh Government and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland) will prepare and publish 43 Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) by 2028.

The plans bring together evidence on the state of the relevant sea fish and shellfish stocks and identify policies and actions necessary to manage our fisheries in an effective and sustainable way. FMPs set out both the vision for the management of the relevant fishery as well as relevant policies and actions intended to help realise that vision. The plans must also consider relevant wider legal obligations.

There are opportunities for growth if our fishing and seafood industries are managed sustainably, to ensure fishing opportunities are safeguarded for future generations. We are keen to continue to work closely with our stakeholders as we develop and deliver our plans for managing fisheries in the UK.

The complete list of FMPs that are being prepared by each of the fisheries authorities is set out in Annex A of the JFS (amended December 2024).