Consultation on the 11 Proposed Joint UK Fisheries Management Plans for Demersal Fish Stocks
The consultation on 11 joint UK Fisheries Management Plans is an opportunity for you to help shape and influence the future of demersal fisheries management policy in UK and builds upon previous engagement with a wide range of stakeholders across the UK.
Closed
This consultation closed 11 March 2026.
View this consultation on consult.gov.scot, including responses once published.
Environmental Report
The Scottish Government is legally required to consider the environmental impact of its policies, plans and programmes. A Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is required for any qualifying public plans, programmes, and strategies during their preparation and prior to publication if they are likely to have a significant effect on a European marine site (either positively or negatively).
The 11 Scottish-led demersal FMPs fall within the scope of the Environmental Assessment of plans and programmes Regulations 2004 because for some of the plans, the geographical coverage extends beyond Scotland. The Scottish Government has undertaken the assessments required in line with the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017, known as the Habitats Regulations and determined that the demersal FMPs may have a likely significant effect (either positive or negative) on European sites or on European offshore marine sites and, therefore, have completed a SEA which can be accessed via the Consultation link here.
The scope and level of detail was informed through early consultation with UK SNCBs and conservation advice. We drew on published information on the state of the environment and the potential impact of fishing on environmental features
Q. 28 Do you have any comments on the assessment of the environmental effects of the 11 draft demersal FMPs, as set out in the environmental report?
Around the UK, and particularly in Scotland there are a lot of different island communities which have a strong fishing presence. As required under the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018 an Island Community Impact Assessment (ICIA) will be considered prior to the final publication of the FMPs. Whilst fisheries management measures tend to be applied on a consistent basis and will not generally have a different or unbalanced impact on island communities. We will consider whether an ICIA is needed prior to finalising the FMPs and taking into account any feedback from this consultation.
Q. 29 Do you have any comments on any potential islands impacts arising from the draft FMPs?
Contact
Email: FMPs@gov.scot