Inshore fishing - wild wrasse: application for a letter of derogation

Overview

The Marine Directorate of the Scottish Government controls access to the wild wrasse fishery through a specific application process. Successful applicants are provided with a specific permission to participate in the fishery which is granted over and above the domestic fishing licence.

The fishery is subject to strict terms and conditions, including a seasonal closure, a restriction on the number of wrasse traps that each vessel is authorised to use and minimum/maximum landing sizes.

We concluded a Fisheries Assessment of how the wild wrasse fishery interacts with the Marine Protected Areas network in 2025.  Read the Fisheries Assessment together with associated advice from NatureScot. The publication includes Habitats Regulations Appraisals (for Special Areas of Conservation (SACs)) and Marine Protected Area (MPA) assessments.

The Fisheries Assessment provides background information about the fishery, management measures in place 2020-2024 and developments from 2025. In particular, from 2025 new spatial management measures for the fishery have been introduced, including a general prohibition on wrasse fishing activity within relevant SACs protected for the reef feature. In addition, fishing in relevant MPAs has been spatially restricted to ensure appropriate protections are in place for the kelp feature.

We will review the Fisheries Assessment for the wrasse fishery as required and based on the best available evidence. 

Publications

• Inshore waters - regulated commercial use of traps/pots to catch wrasse: fisheries assessment 
• Wild wrasse fishery – 2021/22 report
• Wild wrasse harvesting: consultation on proposed new mandatory fishing measures