Proposed Fisheries Management Measures for Inshore Marine Protected Areas and Proposed Priority Marine Feature Management Areas in Scottish Waters - Draft Equality Impact Assessment Record

Stage 1: Framing

Results of framing exercise

The development of proposed fisheries management measures has been accompanied by a Sustainability Appraisal (SA) which includes a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), Socio-Economic Impact Assessment (SEIA), and a Social Impacts Research Report (SIRR). These reports are published for consultation alongside the proposed measures. Questions on the impact assessments (SA, SEIA, SEIA, SIRR) are included in the public consultation to capture any comments or concerns.

The SEIA assessed potential economic and social impacts of the proposed management options that could arise from impacts on commercial fisheries. It was conducted using the SEIA guidance developed with stakeholders in 2022. Costs to the public sector were factored into the analysis, as these are costs borne by society. It is not anticipated these costs would have any significant impact on any individuals.

Option 2 measures, where they are proposed, would present the highest estimated cost to fisheries. This is estimated to be a reduction in average annual value of landings between £9.7 million and £10.3 million. In terms of Gross Value Added (GVA) the reduction is estimated to be a reduction of between £4.7 million and £5.1 million. This represents a small amount (approximately £3.98/£1.95 per year) per household in Scotland. These values are also minor compared to the overall value of the fishing sector in Scotland (£734 million in 2024).

Further assessments undertaken include Business Regulatory Impact Assessments, a Childrens Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment, a Fairer Duty Scotland assessment and an Island Communities Impact Assessment which were also part of the public consultation.

Extent/Level of EQIA required

The Scottish Government have determined as part of the framing exercise that a light touch assessment will be taken with this EQIA as current evidence shows that the potential impacts proposed measures have minimal relevance to equality as defined within the Equality Act 2010. The evidence used to reach this conclusion are the results from the SEIA assessment, and the discussions and engagement conducted with stakeholders likely to be affected by this policy implementation.

Further evidence gathering and engagement will take place as part of the public consultation on the proposed fisheries management measures. A question on the SEIA is incorporated to capture any concerns or feedback.