Marine infringement data: EIR release
Information request and response under the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004.
Information requested
Is there any way of sharing a rawer version of the data such that ports (or even countries) of registration could be included in this? I'm thinking back to a request with reference 202500449742 which was able to disclosure some registration information for random inspections.
Response
I enclose a copy of the information you requested. The attached spreadsheet, which was released to you under your previous request (case ref: 2025490554), contains details of infringements detected during inspections by coastal fishery offices and Marine Protection Vessels (MPVs) between 1 January 2025 and 25 October 2025 that I have now supplemented with the country where vessels are registered.
Additional information provided out with the EIRs
Under regulation 9 of the EIRs (our duty to provide advice and assistance) we would like to advise you that in order to provide further information on vessel registrations, such as their port of registration, it would require a significant amount of time as each record would need to be updated manually due to the way the original data was extracted and supplemented to answer your previous request for outcomes of enforcement action.
Whilst you are entitled to request this information by submitting a further EIR request, we would also advise that, given the complexity of the records and the amount of time it might take to go through the records, it is possible that such a request might be considered manifestly unreasonable and refused under regulation 10(4)(b).
It is worth noting that UK vessels are required to be registered in a port within the UK Fisheries Administration (UKFA) which they are owned, but this does not need to be the port the vessel is based in, or that they work from. For example, a fishing vessel owned and operating from Kirkcudbright, may be legally registered in Lerwick etc. Further information about fishing vessel licencing and ports of administration can be found at:
Fishing vessel licensing - Sea fisheries - gov.scot
2016 Concordat on fisheries management in the UK - gov.scot
About FOI
The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.
Contact
Please quote the FOI reference
Central Correspondence Unit
Email: contactus@gov.scot
Phone: 0300 244 4000
The Scottish Government
St Andrew's House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG