Marine and fisheries compliance: reports of illegal fishing in marine protected areas
Number of reports of alleged illegal fishing in a marine protected area (MPA) from Marine Directorate.
Reports from 1 January 2026 to 30 June 2026
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Gear Type |
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Closure name |
Total number of reports |
Total no. of vessels |
Trawl |
Dredge |
Creel |
Other |
N/K |
Comments |
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North West Rockall Bank SAC OMPA |
7 |
7 |
7 |
|
|
|
|
Newly introduced OMPA - no figures for comparison for same period in 2025 |
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Rockall Haddock Box |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
No figures for comparison during same period in 2025 |
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East Rockall Bank Area 2 OMPA |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
|
|
|
Newly introduced OMPA - no figures for comparison for same period in 2025 |
|
Foula Deeps Seasonal Closure |
6 |
6 |
6 |
|
|
|
|
No figures for comparison during same period in 2025 |
|
South Arran MPA |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
Increase from one to three vessels compared to same period in 2025 |
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South Arran No Wing MPA |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
No figures for comparison during same period in 2025 |
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Luce Bay Seasonal Closure |
3 |
6 |
3 |
3 |
|
|
|
No figures for comparison during same period in 2025 |
|
North East Faroe Shetland Channel OMPA |
4 |
4 |
3 |
|
|
1 (gillnets) |
|
Newly introduced OMPA - no figures for comparison for same period in 2025 |
|
St Andrews Bay |
3 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
|
|
|
Increase from one to three vessels compared to same period in 2025 |
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Geikie Slide & Hebridean Slope Area 1 OMPA |
8 |
8 |
8 |
|
|
|
|
Newly introduced OMPA - no figures for comparison for same period in 2025 |
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Geikie Slide & Hebridean Slope Area 3 OMPA |
2 |
2 |
2 |
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|
|
|
Newly introduced OMPA - no figures for comparison for same period in 2025 |
|
Firth of Forth Banks Complex OMPA |
11 |
11 |
9 |
2 |
|
|
|
Newly introduced OMPA - no figures for comparison for same period in 2025 |
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Pobie Bank Reef Whole OMPA |
7 |
7 |
7 |
|
|
|
|
Newly introduced OMPA - no figures for comparison for same period in 2025 |
|
Central Fladen Area 1 OMPA |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
Newly introduced OMPA - no figures for comparison for same period in 2025 |
|
Central Fladen Area 2 OMPA |
6 |
6 |
6 |
|
|
|
|
Newly introduced OMPA - no figures for comparison for same period in 2025 |
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East of Fair Isle Seasonal Closure |
9 |
9 |
9 |
|
|
|
|
No figures for comparison during same period in 2025 |
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Solan Bank Reef OMPA |
6 |
6 |
6 |
|
|
|
|
Newly introduced OMPA - no figures for comparison for same period in 2025 |
|
Stanhope Ground Seasonal Closure |
9 |
9 |
9 |
|
|
|
|
No figures for comparison during same period in 2025 |
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West Shetland Shelf Area 2 OMPA |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
Newly introduced OMPA - no figures for comparison for same period in 2025 |
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West Shetland Shelf Area 3 OMPA |
5 |
5 |
5 |
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|
|
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Newly introduced OMPA - no figures for comparison for same period in 2025 |
|
West Scotland Whole OMPA |
20 |
20 |
16 |
|
1 |
3 (Gillnets) |
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Newly introduced OMPA - no figures for comparison for same period in 2025 |
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Papa Bank Seasonal Closure |
3 |
3 |
2 |
|
1 |
|
|
No figures for comparison during same period in 2025 |
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Faroe Shetland Sponge Belt OMPA |
6 |
6 |
3 |
|
|
3 (2 x longlines & 1 x gillnets) |
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Newly introduced OMPA - no figures for comparison for same period in 2025 |
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North West Sule Seasonal Closure |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
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No figures for comparison during same period in 2025 |
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Southern Inner Sound MPA |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
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No figures for comparison during same period in 2025 |
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Barra Fan & Hebrides Seamount OMPA |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
Newly introduced OMPA - no figures for comparison for same period in 2025 |
|
Braemar Pockmarks SAC Whole OMPA |
4 |
4 |
4 |
|
|
|
|
Newly introduced OMPA - no figures for comparison for same period in 2025 |
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Wester Ross MPA |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
Same figure compared to same period in 2025 |
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Outer Hebrides Closed Area |
1 |
1 |
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1 |
|
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No figures for comparison during same period in 2025 |
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South Uist Seasonal Closure |
1 |
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
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No figures for comparison during same period in 2025 |
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Stanton Banks Area 1 OMPA |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
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Newly introduced OMPA - no figures for comparison for same period in 2025 |
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Stanton Banks Area 2 OMPA |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
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Newly introduced OMPA - no figures for comparison for same period in 2025 |
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Stanton Banks Area 3 OMPA |
3 |
3 |
3 |
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Newly introduced OMPA - no figures for comparison for same period in 2025 |
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East of Gannet & Montrose Fields Area 1 OMPA |
1 |
1 |
1 |
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Newly introduced OMPA - no figures for comparison for same period in 2025 |
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Blue Ling Box (continental shelf) |
5 |
5 |
5 |
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|
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No figures for comparison during same period in 2025 |
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Scanner Pockmark SAC Whole OMPA |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
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Newly introduced OMPA - no figures for comparison for same period in 2025 |
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East Mingulay SAC MPA |
1 |
1 |
1 |
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|
|
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No figures for comparison during same period in 2025 |
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Loch Roag Seasonal Closure |
2 |
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2 |
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No figures for comparison during same period in 2025 |
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TOTALS |
153 |
154 |
137 |
6 |
6 |
7 |
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Contact
Email: UKFMC@gov.scot
Phone: 0131 244 2286
Fax: 0131 244 6471