Fishing - pelagic quota cuts 2026 - consultation outcome: Scottish Government response

Why a Species-Specific Requirement at 70%

The rationale for moving away from the existing combined 55% target is that it allows vessels to meet compliance by landing proportionately more herring into Scotland while maximising higher-value mackerel landings abroad. In a year where mackerel opportunity is severely constrained relative to recent years, this creates a material risk that domestic mackerel throughput would fall sharply under Business-as-Usual arrangements.

The BRIA modelling illustrates this risk: under BAU, mackerel landings into Scottish factories are projected at 39,094 tonnes in 2026, with 38,582 tonnes still landed abroad. The 70% species-specific scenario increases mackerel landings into Scotland to 59,324 tonnes (an increase of 20,230 tonnes versus BAU), while remaining more proportionate and deliverable than a 100% requirement.

A 55% species-specific requirement was considered but is not recommended, it would not see the same level of mackerel landings and would see a fall in overall domestic throughput and supply regularity to Scottish processors during a year of exceptional quota constraint - a 55% split does not materially improve that aggregate throughput outcome in the modelling.

A 100% requirement would represent the most intrusive intervention and carries heightened risk of unintended market impacts, including concerns around reduced competitive pressure on domestic prices where processors would be guaranteed supply (subject to quota gifting).

Consideration of Additional Quota (AQ)

During engagement, stakeholders proposed alternative approaches to the allocation of AQ, including more equal distribution between vessels and linking AQ to Scottish landing performance as an incentive. While these proposals have been noted and will inform future policy development, AQ will continue to be allocated under existing arrangements for 2026, reflecting the need for rapid implementation, the design complexity of introducing a new mechanism at short notice, and the strong divergence of views within the fleet. A future consultation on AQ allocation will be taken forward separately, including consideration of whether other options would result in more equitable outcomes and a potential linkage to landings compliance in subsequent years.

Conclusion

In response to calls from Scotland’s pelagic processing sector, and following the agreed 2026 quota reductions the Scottish Government has considered landings data, socio-economic evidence from the BRIA and associated impact assessments, reviews of the amended economic link policy, and stakeholder feedback.

On the balance of that evidence, we have concluded that introducing species-specific landing requirements for mackerel and herring at 70% for 2026 is the most effective and proportionate measure available to help safeguard Scotland’s processing capacity, ports, and coastal communities during a year of exceptional quota constraint. This emergency measure is for 2026 and will be evaluated throughout 2026 so that we can monitor impacts and to inform decisions for 2027.

While stakeholders proposed alternative approaches to AQ allocation — particularly more equal distribution and linkage to Scottish landings — AQ will remain allocated under existing arrangements for 2026, reflecting the need for rapid implementation, the design complexity of introducing a new mechanism at short notice, and the strong divergence of views within the fleet. The evidence gathered through this process will inform a separate future consultation on AQ allocation, including consideration of whether there are more equitable approaches and potential linkage to landings into Scotland in future years.

Next Steps:

Emergency licence conditions will be introduced from 1 January 2026. Setting out that for applicable vessels they must:

• Land at least 70% of their total annual mackerel catch into Scotland.
• Land at least 70% of their total annual herring catch into Scotland.

These changes apply to mackerel and herring only. There will be no changes to economic link conditions for other species.