West Coast of Scotland Nephrops: proposed Fisheries Management Plan

Executive Summary

The West Coast of Scotland Nephrops (Nephrops norvegicus) Fisheries Management Plan (FMP) is one of 43 FMPs set out in the Joint Fisheries Statement (JFS). It has been developed by the Scottish Government, Defra and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in collaboration with the Sea Fish Industry Authority (Seafish) with input from industry, scientists, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies (SNCBs).

This FMP sets out the policies and actions to continue to maintain the West Coast of Scotland Nephrops stocks at sustainable levels, ensuring that they can continue to play a key role in providing positive socio-economic benefits to the UK, whilst also setting out a number of actions to improve management where this is needed. The FMP applies to the sustainable management of the West of Scotland Nephrops fisheries within UK waters in International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) Division 6a (West of Scotland) and has been developed in line with the fisheries objectives of the Fisheries Act 2020 (the ‘2020 Act’) and as required by the JFS.

Nephrops are one of the limited number of shellfish species that are managed by quota in the UK. Stock assessments are carried out for specific areas across the North Atlantic by ICES. Nephrops can be found in burrowed mud and these specific areas of suitable habitat have been delineated into stock areas for assessment which are called Functional Units (FUs). ICES, however, refer to them as management units. There are 34 FUs for Nephrops in the North Atlantic, and this FMP covers three FUs in the West of Scotland area. The North Sea Nephrops FMP should be read alongside this FMP.

West of Scotland Nephrops stocks have a high level of data available. On this basis, there is sufficient available scientific evidence for the relevant fisheries policy authorities to make annual maximum sustainable yield (MSY) assessments of the stocks. Overall, the Nephrops stocks relevant to this FMP are currently being fished sustainably within MSY limits^[1],

This FMP therefore describes a vision with policies and actions which set out how management can continue to support an MSY approach^[2] for the West Coast of Scotland Nephrops fisheries, and highlights areas that could lead to refinements to management approaches in the future. Areas for action include those which support the wider delivery of policies within the JFS and which contribute to the delivery of the objectives contained within the 2020 Act. The FMP also sets out action to consider options around FU management.