Marine and fisheries compliance: boardings of vessels in Scottish waters

Number of vessels from both the UK and third countries boarded in Scottish waters by our Marine Protection Vessels (MPVs) crews.

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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.

Nationality January 2022 February 2022 March 2022 April 2022 May 2022 June 2022 Grand total
Great Britain 6 9 27 38 18 52 150
France     1   4 3 8
Germany         2 3 5
Spain        2   3 5
Ireland 1     3     4
Denmark 1   1     1 3
Netherlands         1 1 2
Norway       1     1
Grand total 8 9 29 44 25 63 178

 

Nationality June 2021 July 2021 August 2021 September 2021 October 2021 November 2021 December 2021
Germany 2 3 1   1    
Denmark 13 1 3 1 1 4 1
Spain 1 1   1      
France 3 5 3   1 1 2
UK 37 61 47 33 14 12 16
Ireland 1 7 2   2    
Lithuania         2    
Netherlands   1 3   1    
Sweden  2   3   3    
Grand total 59 79 62 35 25 17 19

 

  • 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 
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