Herring in the Firth of Clyde - recommending the total allowable catch for 2026: consultation

3. Monitoring and Data collection

3.1 Data collection

The Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate continue with ongoing efforts to collect data through initiatives including observer programmes and discard sampling. However, substantial data limitations persist with regards Clyde herring, preventing robust estimates of fishing mortality, spawning stock biomass, or reference points such as Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY). This is reflected in the TACs recommended for the stock, however in reality the TAC has not been a limiting factor in recent years (2011-25 – see Table 1) due to low uptake of the quota.

As described in section 5, if catches are taken, vessels are required to provide acoustic, GPS, and haul by haul data, as well as samples for analysis. In previous years, there has been nominal catches of herring in the Firth of Clyde, so this data has not been received. However, in 2025, samples were taken during fishing and collected by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI). We would like to thank fishers for their collaboration in collecting samples. Multiple years of data would be needed to allow conclusions to be drawn, so it is important that samples continue to be collected during fishing.

The Marine Directorate are planning to commence a dedicated acoustic survey for sprat and herring in the Firth of Clyde during autumn 2027 to address knowledge gaps and improve the scientific basis for management of the herring fishery. The data collected will allow for better estimates of herring biomass in the Clyde, providing an improved basis for advice regarding TAC levels, and supporting long-term sustainability of Clyde herring.

There are positive steps being taken to improve the evidence available. However, the central aim remains in determining and recommending a management approach which is precautionary, reflects the data we do have available, and allows for further evidence gathering, without disproportionately or arbitrarily reducing the quota available to potential fishers.

3.2 Request for additional data

Since 2023, the consultations have included a request from the Marine Directorate for any relevant additional data that fishers, research organisations, universities or other stakeholders may hold on this stock. Unfortunately, no additional data has been received through these data calls.

Despite this, the Marine Directorate still recognise the value in continuing to request that fishers, research organisations, universities or other stakeholders share with the Marine Directorate any relevant additional data may hold on this stock. Consideration will be given to any data which:

• Is verified numerical data.
• Records some or all biological measurements such as fish weights, lengths, ages, and maturities.

Examples may include herring surveys, herring sampling data, fishers’ logbook data (detailing catch, location, reported landings).

Please submit any data to mss.fisheries.advice@gov.scot and Campbell Pert (Campbell.Pert@gov.scot) by 31 December 2026, to allow for consideration during 2027.

3.3 Future monitoring

During the 2025 consultation, a commitment was made to engage with stakeholders to discuss the future management of the stock, including the option to consider introducing a monitoring TAC, to address the challenge of data limitations. We would like to thank stakeholders for the productive feedback during 2025 on this.

Following these discussions and the steps outlined in Section 3.1, we are not proposing to consult on the introduction of a monitoring TAC for 2026. However, we will keep this decision under review subject to the successful collection of data in the coming years.