Boardings and inspections 2018/19: FOI release

Information requested

You asked for data for total boardings and inspections broken down into UK, EU and third country vessels.

Response

I enclose a copy of all of the information you requested.  I have also included figures that show the same information but with MPV Minna and RIB patrols excluded, as these work predominantly in Scottish inshore waters on the west coast where there are very few non UK vessels operating.  This shows a more comparable picture when comparing boardings in areas where both UK and EU / 3rd country vessels are allowed to fish.

You should note that:

• The figures cover all of Scotland’s waters, including areas where EU and third country vessels cannot fish such as territorial waters and Marine Protected Areas;
• EU and third country vessels are mainly inspected at sea, as opposed to in port or at the market; and
• EU and third country vessels fishing in Scottish waters generally tend to be larger in size but fewer in number – therefore the number of physical inspections will be lower.
• The numbers provided for UK vessels cover the full range of the fishing fleet as opposed to a small segment of it that would be more comparable with EU and 3rd country vessels of the same sector.

Boardings at Sea by Nationality

	2018 (from 15/11/18 to end of year)	2019 (up to 04/11/19)
EU	3	79
3rd country	0	59
UK	31	444
	616

Boardings in Port 

	2018 (from 15/11/18 to end of year)	2019 (up to 04/11/19)
EU	46	235
3rd country	3	88
UK	159	1214
	1745

Inspections (at market, premises or elsewhere)

	2018 (from 15/11/18 to end of year)	2019 (up to 04/11/19)
EU	2	38
3rd country	9	61
UK	1254	12367
	13731

Note: there is no direct read across from inspections at markets and other premises to the number of boats
 
Sightings in Port

	2018 (from 15/11/18 to end of year)	2019 (up to 04/11/19)
EU	35	275
3rd country	7	98
UK	390	3204
	4009

The figures are however skewed by the fact that MPV Minna and RIB patrols predominatly work the inshore waters of the west coast of Scotland, where there are very few boardings of non UK vessels yet boardings by these assets are included in calculating the above figures. 
Therefore, taking MPV Minna and RIB patrols out of the equation, the figures are thus:
Boardings at Sea by Nationality (excluding MPV Minna / RIB patrols)

Nationality	Dredge	Fixed nets	Lines	Inshore	Pots	Pelagic	Demersal	TOTAL
3rd country	0%	33%	12%	0%	0%	54%	3%	17%
Other EU	0%	33%	49%	0%	67%	34%	12%	22%
UK	100%	33%	40%	100%	33%	12%	85%	61%

This shows that the ratio of boardings is very much fishery dependent.  The figures above are also more up to date (up to 19 November 2019) rather than up to the point where the FOI request was made (up to 4 November 2019).

Boardings in Port
This can also be shown in the figures for boardings in port.  Once again, these figures are more up to date (up to 19 November 2019) rather than up to the point where the FOI request was made (up to 4 November 2019).

Nationality	Number Of In port Boardings	Number of Inspections on those boardings	TOTAL
3rd Country	130	92	71%
Other EU	734	288	39%
UK	57969	1432	2%

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