Science Evidence Data and Digital Portfolio Annual Report 2024 - 2025

Marine Research Vessels (MRVs)

The Marine Directorate operates 2 Marine Research Vessels (MRV’s) on behalf of Scottish Ministers – MRV Scotia and MRV Alba na Mara. These have spent 266 and 260 days at sea covering 35,667 and 14,354 nautical miles respectively serving Scotland’s marine research needs from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025.

MRV Scotia hosted 104 SEDD staff and 33 visitors and Alba Na Mara hosted 69 staff and 4 visitors. Each vessel has fully equipped laboratories on-board allowing the scientists to conduct their research in real time, often changing the course of the survey programme after considering their on-going findings.

Marine Directorate is a member of the Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland (MASTS) and continues to collaborate with other MASTS members such as Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and we have carried out joint work on their research vessel (Sir John Murray) as well as collaborating with the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) through provision of vessel time.

MRV Scotia is edging close to reaching its end of-service age. There is a project underway which looks to deliver a replacement vessel, for which we have developed a technical specification which will deliver improved capability. We intend to prepare for procurement in 2025. However, investment is still required for essential life-extending repairs and replacement of equipment on Scotia so that it can remain in service until the replacement vessel is delivered.

The MRVs are used to gather high quality scientific data to support annual stock negotiations through supplying this essential data to the international body that provides the scientific advice for quota setting. In addition to collecting data for fisheries, the MRVs also collect data for marine enhancement, e.g. surveying Marine Protected Areas.

Maintaining our MRVs is essential as they play a vital role in managing fish stocks, these stocks support a Scottish fishing industry that employs over 4,200 people, many of whom live in remote and island communities.