Proposed West Coast of Scotland Nephrops and North Sea Nephrops: Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) - consultation

Background: Fisheries Management Plans

Why are we publishing FMPs?

The Act sets out the legal framework to manage fisheries in the UK, including the provision to prepare and publish FMPs. FMPs are intended to support the protection of fish stocks and, where necessary, the recovery of fish stocks, which in turn will support a sustainable fishing industry and safeguard the environment.

What are FMPs?

FMPs are documents prepared and published under the Act that set out policies designed to restore or maintain relevant stocks of sea fish and shellfish at sustainable levels. They are evidence-based action plans that support delivery of sustainable fisheries for current and future generations. The FMPs are long-term plans that must be reviewed and, if necessary, revised at least once every six years. Where appropriate, FMPs may identify actions to address wider issues identified during their development such as environmental, social and economic considerations.

How FMPs work

The management of fisheries is a devolved competency, currently managed through regulation, byelaws, licence conditions and voluntary measures. FMPs may lead to changes to these management measures.

National Fisheries Authorities (in this case the Scottish Government, Defra, the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and DAERA) are legally required to act in accordance with the policies set out in these plans and will work with a range of organisations and relevant stakeholders on implementation of the actions contained within the plans.

FMPs identify a range of policies and actions. Plans are intended to be adaptive and develop over time as further evidence is gathered, and measures are implemented. Whilst each FMP focuses on specific stock(s), they will often need to be considered in a holistic manner, particularly where there are strong stock interactions and connections between different fisheries.

FMP actions are intended to be implemented over their lifetime to have an impact on how fisheries are managed. It may therefore take some time to show benefits in terms of improving the sustainability of stocks and fisheries.

FMPs and other coastal States

FMPs provide a long-term framework for managing fishing activity, with the policies and actions focused on ensuring stock sustainability and a healthy marine environment. The policies and actions within the FMPs reflect and respect the international management arrangements that are in place for each of the FMPs covered by this consultation.

The UK, whilst having regulatory autonomy over its fisheries, is committed to working with other coastal States, building on our strong and constructive relationships, to ensure sustainable management of shared fisheries resources. In order to achieve or contribute to achieving the objectives of the Act, the policies and actions in current and future FMPs will be implemented, and iterated where necessary, to reflect commitments made through annual consultations with the EU and other coastal States as well as negotiations in multilateral and bilateral forums.

These plans may inform multi-year strategies for conservation and management of shared stocks, including those proposed by the UK and EU under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA).

Regulatory measures to implement FMPs will apply to all vessels fishing in UK waters. The UK will notify the EU and other coastal States of changes affecting any vessels.

Approach to the development of the FMPs

Developed in a collaborative and transparent way, our aim is to ensure that FMPs are relevant to the fishery or fisheries in question and support a practical and flexible approach to fisheries management tailored to species, locations, and fishing activities.

FMPs are being developed across the UK in different ways, allowing us to try new approaches and test how best to develop the plans and engage with stakeholders.

Why an FMP for Nephrops?

Nephrops are the most valuable of the shellfish fisheries in the UK with the total value of the species covered by the two FMPs landed by the UK fleet totalling £83.4 million in 2024^[8].

There are two UK Nephrops FMPs, covering the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) subarea 4 (North Sea) and ICES subarea 6 (West Coast of Scotland). The areas covered by the FMPs have distinct issues and challenges that warrant separate consideration. Whilst each area has its differences, there are also similarities across FMPs to ensure consistency in management approaches.

The West Coast of Scotland Nephrops FMP has also taken account of the policies in those FMPs covering Nephrops stocks in ICES area 7 (Irish Sea demersal FMP, Celtic Sea demersal FMP currently being developed by DAERA and Defra respectively), to further ensure a consistent management approach.