Razor clams - commercial fishery using electric current gear: consultation analysis - island communities impact assessment

4. Assessment

4.1 Assessment of Unique Impacts on Island Communities

The issues arising from the consultation responses and the proposed commercial fishery with regard to island communities are addressed below.

4.1.1 Razor Clam Grounds

The location of razor clam grounds with sufficient density to warrant classification by Food Standards Scotland (FSS) to enable fishing presents an inherent barrier to initial/ongoing benefits being immediately felt across all islands.

4.1.2 Vessel Cap

There will be an overall cap to vessel numbers authorised to fish in specific areas for razor clams across Scotland. Authorisation to participate in the fishery will be subject to a transparent and objective application process. While this will not inherently disadvantage island communities, it will limited overall opportunities Scotland wide.

4.1.3 MPAs/PMFs

The MPA network spans both island and mainland Scotland inshore areas and we do not identify a particularly unique impact on island areas. Sound of Barra is one area where razor clam density is well known to be high, however fishing is prohibited there currently due to the level of conservation and management advice in the overlying Sound of Barra Special Area of Conservation. These barriers to fishing some razor grounds exist in inshore waters around mainland Scotland as well, however.

4.2 Discussion of specific Demographic, Economic , Social and Gaelic Impacts

4.2.1 Demographic Impacts

The average age of someone working in the fishing industry in the UK is 40. Relative to the rest of the UK, the Scottish fishing fleet has a younger demographic breakdown. A commercial fishery for razor clams may contribute to increasing catch rates, landings and profitability which in turn would encourage additional workers into the fishing industry workforce at crew, processing and transport stages. Razor clam fishing by island-connected vessels and businesses may therefore secure and encourage employment opportunities on the islands. This may also incentivise the retention of working age people in the islands and is likely to be benefit to many island communities.

4.2.2 Economic Impacts

Following from the demographic advantages above, the associated economic benefits from creating employment at sea and onshore employment generate additional value for the local economy.

In 2025-26, active trial vessels landed 659 tonnes of razor clams, at a value of £5.2 million which contributed considerably to Scotland’s economy. Throughout 2025-26, around 69 people were employed by vessels enrolled and active, at any point in the trial. Of which, the majority were regularly employed (regularly employed being those whose primary occupation was fishing)^[1]. In 2025-26 an average of 31 tonnes of razor clams were landed per vessel at a price of £7,950 per tonne.

The landings of the trial were widely distributed between ports in Scotland. In 2025-26, landings were reported from 24 ports in 6 districts. Figure 1 shows the shares of landings of razor clams into Scottish ports in 2025-26. Pittenweem had the largest share of landings, with 22 per cent of landings in 2025-26. Smaller ports may benefit further economically and socially from a limited commercial fishery.

4.2.3 Social Impacts

Both the previous demographic and economic factors will have consequences for social impacts and we anticipate that a commercial fishery for razor clams will make a positive contribution to social factors, for example providing more fishing opportunities, strengthened earnings security and associated downstream benefits.

4.2.4 Gaelic Impacts

There is unlikely to be an appreciable impact on the use of Gaelic as a consequence of the implementation of the policy.

4.3 Potential Barriers or Wider Impacts

Razor Clam beds are not uniformly distributed around the Scottish coast and consequently the concentration of vessels and shore-based infrastructure is focused in specific locations. This means there is a barrier to realising the full benefit of razor fishing if a vessel is based outside of these locations. This is the same whether in an island location or otherwise.

4.3.1 Mitigations Already in Place for These Impacts

There will be an overall cap to vessel numbers authorised to fish in specific areas for razor clams across Scotland. Authorisation to participate in the fishery will be subject to a transparent and objective application process leading to a licence condition for authorised vessels. While this will not inherently disadvantage island communities, it will limited overall opportunities Scotland wide.

4.4 Island Communities Impact Assessment Determination

The evidence shows that the policy will likely have outcomes (such as levels of satisfaction, or different rates of participation) for an island community which is different from other island communities. There has been regular fishing in Broad Bay on Lewis, Tarbert Bank by Colonsay and in the Sound of Gigha but other trial areas which have been authorised have not been consistently fished (Coll and Tiree, Benbecula, Sound of Harris) meaning there are different circumstances in different islands with some fishers better realising the benefits of the scientific trial fishery.

The effect of this policy may therefore amount to an advantage for one island community and a status quo or disadvantage for another island community. As determined in the assessment, the concentration of vessels and infrastructure is not evenly distributed.

A full Island Communities Impact Assessment IS required.