Commercial fishery for razor clams using electric current gear consultation: partial BRIA

5. Scottish Firms Impact Test

To be completed during formal consultation.

5.1 Competition Assessment

Explain whether proposals will have an impact on competition ensuring you provide evidence to back up any statements you make.

• Will the measure directly or indirectly limit the number or range of suppliers

Option 1 - Discontinuation of the fishery would directly limit the number and range of suppliers as fishing for razor clams would return to being illegal. Buyers seeking legally harvested produce would likely switch to the Irish fishery.

Option 2 – may limit range of suppliers but this depends on the initial scale of any commercial fishery.

Option 3 – may limit ability of suppliers to compete if trial fishing is managed to a different standard than commercial fishing, or is implemented in combination with a general prohibition.

• Will the measure limit the ability of suppliers to compete

Option 1 – prohibition would remove all legal suppliers and therefore suppliers would no longer be able to compete domestically or with nearby fisheries such as the Irish sea fishery.

Option 2 – not expected to limit incentives.

Option 3 – not expected to limit incentives.

• Will the measure limit suppliers’ incentives to compete vigorously

Option 1 - Discontinuation of the fishery would directly limit the number and range of suppliers as fishing for razor clams would return to being illegal.

• Will the measure limit the choices and information available to consumers

Option 1 - Discontinuation of the fishery would directly limit the number and range of suppliers as fishing for razor clams would return to being illegal. Legal supply of razor clams would be limited mainly to Irish supply, limiting choices to consumers.

Option 2 – expected to maintain or improve choice and information available to consumers.

Option 3 – depending on implementation could affected choice, information would not be affected.