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

5. Island Communities Impact Assessment

5.1 Assessment of Likely Significantly Different Effects of the Policy

Unlike the sectoral fishing fleet based in the Northeast of Scotland and Shetland, the bulk of landings of razor clams are to small ports in the central belt. The market for a significant share of landings is east Asia by air, meaning businesses with permission to fish locally to airports have an advantage over businesses with permission to fish further away. This manifests in higher transport costs, greater reliance on ferries, and bigger expense in maintaining shellfish harvesting area classification status. These are largely external factors related to the end market that cannot be mitigated by changes to this policy. When we consider this policy, the changes that can be made relate to technical measures and most importantly for this assessment, where fishing can occur. In our BRIA we have assessed the effect of a moderately larger fishery, and may consider island locations outside of those in the scientific trial as candidates for careful expansion. We will evaluate access to the fishery through an application process, which will focus on fishing plans and track record, safety, history of compliance with regulations, ability to install necessary Remote Electronic Monitoring systems. This will be open and transparent as required by the Fisheries Act, so we would not be able to preferentially offer access to island-based fishing businesses. There is, however, an existing advantage to those island communities who have participated in the scientific trial compared with those who have not participated. Although, some fishing industry representatives and individual fishing businesses located in Orkney and Shetland have now expressed interest in gaining access to the commercial fishery which may promote diversification in fishing opportunities and lessen the divide in participation across island communities.

Therefore, there is no evidence of significant disadvantages for island communities compared to mainland communities based on the policy of establishment of a limited commercial fishery for razor clams using electric current.

5.2 Alternative Delivery Mechanisms

The outcome will be reviewed periodically for environmental and socio-economic issues and if any undesirable changes arise we will reassess the policy, which may mean adjusting the size of the fishery in terms of locations where vessels are authorised to fish, daily catch limits or annual effort limits.