Marine and fisheries compliance: boardings of vessels in Scottish waters

This is the publication of the numbers of vessels from both the UK and third countries boarded in Scottish waters by our Marine Protection Vessels (MPVs) crews. The figures need to be seen in the context outlined in the accompanying text with the table.

• the publication of this enforcement information will help increase transparency around the work we are doing to promote compliance with regulation; prevent and deter illegal activity, and respond with enforcement action when required to, in waters up to 200 nautical miles offshore of Scotland
• Marine Scotland Compliance has three Marine Protection Vessels and two inshore Rigid Inflatable Boats that regularly undertake boardings of vessels operating in Scottish waters
• our boardings are undertaken following a rigorous risk based process
• vessel nationality does not play a significant part in this risk based process
• on any given day, it is worth noting that the UK fishing fleet accounts for approximately 80% of vessels actively fishing in Scottish waters, therefore the proportion of UK vessels boarded is always likely to be more.
• a number of the boarding’s of UK vessels will have occurred within territorial waters, where only UK vessels can legally fish. All boarding’s by the inshore patrol vessels and a number by the offshore vessels, will be within territorial waters and are therefore unlikely to involve non-UK vessels, this will also result in the proportion of UK vessels boarded being higher
• this continues our commitment to ongoing publication of this data. The next publication will be in six months time