Boarding and inspections breakdown 2019-2020: EIR release

Information requested

Data for total boardings and inspections broken down into UK, EU and third country vessels for the year 2019/20.

Response

Below is a copy of all 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.
• You should note that during the period under review boarding and inspection activities were significantly impacted by Covid-19 pandemic.

Boardings at Sea by Nationality

	2019 (from 5 / 11 / 19 to end of year)	2020 (complete calendar year)
EU	9	20
3rd country	9	19
UK	48	104

 

Boardings in Port

	2019 (from 5 / 11 /19 to end of year)	2020 (complete calendar year)
EU	35	51
3rd country	1	55
UK	174	586

 

Boardings in Port
This can also be shown in the figures for boardings in port.

Nationality	Number Of In port Boardings	Number of Inspections on those boardings	TOTAL
3rd Country	59	43	73%
Other EU	92	71	78%
UK	750	592	79%

Inspections (at market, premises or elsewhere)

	2019 (from 5 / 11 / 19 to end of year)	2020 (complete calendar year)
EU	4	46
3rd country	5	29
UK	1523	6018

 

Sightings in Port

	2019 (from 5 / 11 / 19 to end of year)	2020 (complete calendar year)
EU	34	111
3rd country	4	62
UK	342	2380

 

Boardings at Sea by Nationality (excluding MPV Minna / RIB patrols)

Nationality	Demersal Trawl/Seine	Fixed nets	Industrial trawl	Long Lines	Pelagic	Pots/Creels	Dredge	TOTAL
3rd country	4%	0%	0%	0%	38%	0%	0%	12%
Other EU	12%	0%	100%	33%	5%	0%	0%	25%
UK	84%	100%	0%	67%	12%	100%	100%	63%

This shows that the ratio of boardings is very much fishery dependent.

About FOI
The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.