Commercial fishery for razor clams using electric current gear - consultation: strategic environmental assessment report

2. Non-technical Summary

This Strategic Environmental Assessment report supports the consultation on the future of razor clam fishing in Scotland, drawing on evidence from a regulated scientific trial.

We assess how different outcomes (creating a commercial fishery, establishing a new smaller scale trial, or returning to full prohibition) might affect the biodiversity, flora and fauna, population and human health, and material assets. Evidence from the trial shows that fishing using electric current gear can be managed without risking significant adverse effects on protected features, when controls such as seasonal closures, spatial restrictions and remote electronic monitoring are in place.

These approaches have been effective at controlling the risk of negative effects on seabirds and Priority Marine Features, and are expected to remain effective under either a commercial fishery or a new trial. A return to a prohibition, however, is likely to lead to a return of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, which historically ignored conservation measures and created risks to protected species and habitats, food safety, and worker safety.

With respect to sustainable use of the resource, stock assessments conducted in several trial areas (Forth, Clyde, Colonsay and Broad Bay) indicate that fishing mortality during the trial has been below maximum sustainable levels. In other trial areas where fishing effort has been intermittent, insufficient data exist to determine sustainable harvest limits, meaning expanded stock assessments would be a priority in managing a commercial fishery or new trial.

The trial has also ensured that harvested razor clams are subject to regular food safety testing, maintaining high consumer protection standards. This oversight would continue under a commercial fishery or new trial. We consider maintaining appropriate regulation of harvesting and onward sales would have the best outcomes for human health and worker safety.

A commercial fishery or a new scientific trial (or both in combination) can be delivered in a way that maintains protection of biodiversity, flora and fauna, population and human health and sustainable use of razor clam stocks. A return to prohibition, while superficially protective, is expected to increase the risk of negative environmental outcomes through the loss of regulator access and challenges in enforcing a prohibition.