Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment on Nephrops Fisheries Management Plans

Section 2: Engagement and information gathering

Engagement approach

The two Nephrops FMP have been informed by a range of stakeholder engagement initiatives. As part of the FMP development process, Seafish, on behalf of the fisheries policy authorities, delivered a series of stakeholder engagement events between March and April 2024. This was part of a process known as ‘pre-consultation’. Feedback from these events was used to refine draft content and to develop the policies presented in this plan. Further pre-consultation work was undertaken during 2025, with the Scottish Government sharing a draft of the West Coast of Scotland Nephrops FMP and gathering comments from stakeholders at workshops held on 29 May 2025 and 5 June 2025 and by inviting written feedback. Stakeholder knowledge has been valuable and contributed to providing the context for both the West Coast of Scotland Nephrops FMP and the North Sea Nephrops FMP, and in developing meaningful actions that will support the sustainable management of these FMPs in the future.

Feedback received as part of formal public consultation will help shape the final FMPs.

Internal SG engagement/ engagement with wider Public Sector

Internal SG engagement

Consultation has been undertaken with officials within the Marine Directorate of the Scottish Government, including policy, compliance and science experts and marine analysts/economists.

UK/ Devolved Administrations

Within the UK we have also engaged with DEFRA, the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and Northern Ireland Executive on all FMPs relevant to them.

International

In an international context we have engaged with the EU to allow to them to provide feedback on Nephrops FMPs.

Business / Third Sector engagement

Seafish, on behalf of the fisheries policy authorities, delivered a series of stakeholder engagement events between March and April 2024. Feedback from these events was used to refine draft content and to develop the goals presented in these plans. Further pre-consultation work was undertaken by the Scottish Government via a working group of industry, environmental and SNCBs stakeholders which met multiple times to help inform and shape the content of the FMPs. In addition, separate bilateral meetings took place over a number of months to gather additional views and input.

Public consultation

This partial BRIA has been produced to support public consultation on the Nephrops FMPs. The purpose of the consultation is to seek views from those with an interest in the plans. The consultation also seeks feedback on the evidence presented in the plans and provides an opportunity for respondents to provide additional evidence that may support the FMP policies.