Fishing - wild wrasse: application for a letter of derogation

Eligibility and application procedure

Eligibility

Fishers wishing to access the wrasse fishery must apply on an annual basis to Scottish Ministers, to obtain a letter of derogation. An application form can be obtained from the local fishery office.

To be considered for a Letter of Derogation, applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:

1. Hold a valid sea fishing licence as defined by regulation 2 of The Sea Fishing (Licences and Notices) (Scotland) Regulations 2011, SSI 2011, No 70
2. Have entered into and continue to be subject to a contract to supply wild wrasse to a person who carries on a business of fish farming and who is authorised as an aquaculture production business under The Aquatic Animal Health (Scotland) Regulations 2009 (“a salmon farm operator”) and, supply a copy of such contract in order to evidence the same to the Scottish Government.
3. Always comply with all licence conditions noted in the Annex to any Letter of Derogation issued to them under this scheme.

Once granted a Letter of Derogation, applicants must continue to fulfil the above criteria on an ongoing basis. Failure to do so may result in the withdrawal of the Letter of Derogation and thus the ability to fish for wild wrasse.

If an applicant has previously breached any licence conditions, the application may be considered at the discretion of the Scottish Ministers.

Unsuccessful applicants

Where an application of a prospective participant for a Letter of Derogation is unsuccessful, the Scottish Government will reply by letter fully detailing the reasons why the application was unsuccessful. Unsuccessful applicants may appeal this decision by writing to Inshore@gov.scot and setting out the reasons why they believe they should have been granted a Letter of Derogation.