Scotland's fisheries management strategy 2020 to 2030: delivery plan update 2025

12 Point Action Plan (delivery and progress)

Action 1 - We will promote fishing as an attractive and safe career of choice, with a focus on improving safety standards, fair work, supporting new entrants into the sector, and equal treatment regardless of national origin or gender

Relevant fisheries objectives:

• Sustainability objective
• National benefit objective

We have

• Continued to work in partnership with the fishing industry to prioritise safety, including the provision of Marine Fund Scotland (MFS) funding which has supported Seafish to deliver approved safety training for both new and experienced fishers.
• Continued to make funding available through our Marine Fund Scotland to support young fishers to develop a career in the fishing industry. Between 2021 and 2024 MFS has awarded 37 young fishers over £2.5 m grant to enable them to purchase their 1st fishing vessel (or a share in a vessel). This will help to secure long term viability of the industry and provide resilience for the workforce.
• Recognised the role of women and young people in the fishing industry, supporting the work carried out by the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation in their ‘Pride in our Seas’ campaign.
• Continued to press the UK Government on worker’s rights and encouraged the fishing industry to consider fair work practices in their businesses.
• Continued to make representations and submit evidence to both the UK Government and the Migration Advisory Committee on the negative impacts of current UK immigration policy on the fishing industry and others, and the need to collaborate with the new UK Government to address labour shortages.

We will

• Continue to work in partnership with the Scottish fishing industry through the Scottish Fishing Safety Group (SFSG) and Seafish, identifying and supporting the delivery of actions to support safety and career development training.
• Continue to identify opportunities to support young fishers to purchase their first vessel or a share in an existing one and develop a career in the fishing sector to support ongoing resilience.
• Support the fishing industry to consider improved ways to raise working standards in the fishing sector, for example through accreditation routes.
• Stand ready to work constructively and pragmatically with the UK Government, and with industry, to identify and implement alternative arrangements for immigration policy that promote both proportionate border security and the ability of businesses to access the labour they need.

Action 2 - We will secure the resilience of the fishing industry, working with stakeholders to strengthen links to local and global markets, supporting diversification and exploring new fishing opportunities

Relevant fisheries objectives

• Sustainability objective
• National benefit objective

We have

• Provided support of £5 million in 2020/21 and £5 million in 2021/22 to the joint industry and Scottish Government recovery plan to help the farming, fishing, food and drink sector recover from Brexit and COVID-19.
• Continued to support the Scottish Nephrops Working Group with a total support of £1.3 million awarded to Seafood Scotland since 2021.
• Continued the scientific trial of electro-fishery for razor clams. In 2023 authorised vessels landed an estimated £5.4 million of razors. This trial suggested it is a low impact method of harvesting razor clams. Approximately 90 people are regularly employed working on vessels participating in the trial, with benefits extending to logistics in the onward value chain.
• We have continued to support opportunities to diversify inshore fisheries where possible, providing additional fishing opportunities to inshore vessels to support diversification where possible.
• Continued to support the wild wrasse fishery thereby reducing the use of chemical treatments to control sea lice in the aquaculture industry, supporting new entrants and providing an important diversification opportunity for existing fishers.
• Continued to deliver on our statutory and operational functions to support positive business conditions, by providing a stable framework from which businesses can make decisions and have confidence in the fishing opportunities that continue to exist.
• Committed over £6 million to support Seafood Scotland since 2021, supporting promotion of Scottish seafood in the UK & to export markets. This includes in both developing new markets for the premium seafood, and in retaining existing markets, both domestically and internationally, and includes £150K to host the 2024 Responsible Seafood Summit in St Andrews.
• Published the Seafood Strategy for Scotland in 2022.
• Supported the seafood sector play their role in delivering our Good Food Nation ambitions.
• Implemented interim measures to apply protections to under pressure crab and lobster stocks ahead of the 2024 fishing season. Implemented a bespoke scientific trial in the Solway Firth aimed at improving our evidence base on an area not currently covered by our assessment areas.

We will

• Continue to support the trial on electro-fishing for razor clams as we consider next steps. To enable this development work, the razor clam trial has been extended for a 24-month period, to January 2027.
• Continue to improve the evidence base of the wild wrasse fishery and undertake a Fisheries Assessment (including a Habitats Regulations Appraisal and Appropriate Assessment) ahead of the 2025 season.
• Continue to take forward the actions set out in the Seafood Strategy.
• Continue to work with the seafood sector to deal with the technical challenges arising from EU Exit including through the work of the Scottish Seafood Industry Action Group and the Seafood Scotland chaired Policy Issues, Sector Cooperation, Engagement (and) Support (PISCES) working group.
• In the longer term, review pelagic capacity limits and consider options for distant water and other opportunities.
• Review the interim management measures for crab and lobster stocks ahead of the 2025 season.

Action 3 - We will increase the benefit from fishing to local areas through our policies around allocation of additional quota, ensuring quota is in the hands of active fishers, and increasing the volume of fish landed into Scotland including through the introduction of a Scottish economic link licence condition in early 2022

Relevant fisheries objectives

• Sustainability objective
• National benefit objective

We have

• Introduced new Economic link licence conditions from Jan 2023 requiring Scottish vessels targeting the species of greatest value to Scotland to land a minimum percentage into Scotland or provide quota for distribution to other sections of the industry. This has contributed to increased landings of mackerel and herring for 2023 and 2024 into Scottish ports delivering additional benefits to our coastal communities.
• Worked with the UK Government (and other Administrations) on a UK wide consultation on additional quota in 2023.
• Consulted and published the outcome on how we distribute Scottish Additional Quota (AQ) on 7 June 2024.
• Continued to make Special Allocations of AQ to our non-sector inshore fleet and have increased the allocation of mackerel, cod and saithe, in recognition of the good uptake of these species.

We will

• From 2025, change the reference period we use to calculate from a fixed period to an annually updated period, to ensure the active fishing fleet receives AQ, and to allow vessels without a track record for the previously fixed reference period to begin benefiting from AQ.
• From 2025 we have introduced an application process to receive West of Scotland cod AQ, applications will be assessed principally on use of selective gear and fishing with a reduced environmental impact. We are engaging proactively with the fishing industry and other stakeholders as part of this process.
• Investigate the potential development of Community Quota Initiatives, with this allocation methodology potentially being adopted in future years.

Action 4 - We will support delivery of a strong relationship between the fishing industry and local communities, with strengthened links to local supply chains, support for consumers to buy local / Scottish and recognising the importance of inward migration for remote and coastal communities

Relevant fisheries objectives

• Sustainability objective
• National benefit objective

We have

• Provided MFS funding to Seafood Scotland each year since 2021, totalling £8.25 million for supporting the fishing sector and for driving improvements in the performance and reputation of the seafood sector in Scotland. This has led to economic, social and environmental benefits along the supply chain, for stakeholders and for rural communities. Seafood Scotland projects have included those:
  • supporting domestic and export market development.
  • promoting wide awareness of Scottish seafood as a sustainable food source and the opportunities it offers as a career destination; and
  • co-hosting, in October 2024, the Responsible Seafood Summit in St Andrews which attracted 350 delegates from around the world to further develop a healthy, responsible global seafood community.
  • the development and implementation of the Scottish Nephrops Programme which aims to achieve long term resilience of the Nephrops supply chain, and the long-term viability and profitability of the entire supply chain of Scottish Nephrops.

We will

• Continue to take steps to realise Scotland’s Good Food Nation ambition – including the investment of £5 million to support Scotland Food and Drink’s plan to create stability, sustainability, resilience and innovation to support the sector to succeed and prosper over the next ten years announced at the 2023 Royal Highland Show.
• Continue to support local projects through the Marine Fund Scotland.

• Continue to address the challenges leading to depopulation, through the Scottish Government’s Addressing Depopulation Action Plan which sets out how we will work with regional, local and community partners to ensure that we collectively deliver a sustainable solution to these challenges.
• Support a community-driven approach to local migration, for example through the Rural Visa Pilot proposal which was developed with key stakeholders such as Seafood Scotland and others, and which would allow rural communities to attract migrants in line with their distinct needs, meeting labour market demands and skills shortages, and addressing demographic challenges felt within communities. Delivery of this proposal would require the UK Government to agree to its delivery within the current UK immigration system. We continue to call for this and call on the UK Government to work with us to deliver tailored migration schemes which meet the needs of Scotland’s communities.

Action 5 - We will address issues around the shared marine space linking with wider developments through our actions on the Blue Economy, considering how fishing interests can work alongside others marine users including offshore renewables

Relevant fisheries objectives:

• National benefit objective

We have

• Published the Blue Economy Vision in March 2022, followed by ‘Delivering Scotland’s Blue Economy Approach’ published November 2022. We have mainstreamed this approach in our work, and it is now firmly embedded across the Marine Directorate and well recognised across the Scottish Government and the wider public sector.
• Made substantial progress with development of our National Marine Plan 2 closely working with our stakeholders and supported by an extensive programme of engagement. A series of 14 online and in-person sector workshops took place from April to August 2024 to gather feedback on the draft high-level objectives for the plan and potential policy ideas. Over 100 organisations were represented across marine sectors, government, statutory advisors, non-governmental organisations and young people.
• Published the Planning Position Statement (PPS) on 5 November 2024 summarising all the work which has been done so far, and this was out to public consultation until 28 January 2025.
• We have been working with our contractors on our updated Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy (SMP-OWE) and associated plan level assessments. These assessments will consider the potential impacts on the marine environment and other marine sectors, including the fishing sector.
• Participated in the Scottish Offshore Wind Energy Council (SOWEC) - Barriers to Deployment Group, that is fostering coexistence between the offshore wind and the fishing sector by recognising that a new generation of ScotWind projects will require a more holistic approach.
• Completed seven projects through the ScotMER research programme, which looks into the interactions between offshore renewable energy and the marine environment. The outcome of these projects was published on the Scottish Government website in 2023.

We will

• Adopt a blue economy approach in the NMP2, considering our marine economy, local communities, and the environment altogether. This will help to get the right planning framework in place to address the increased competition for marine space, whilst safeguarding sustainable marine sectors and recognising the importance of specific sectors, such as fishing, to our coastal and island communities.
• Commence consultation on a draft updated SMP-OWE in Spring 2025 and finalise the draft Plan in Autumn 2025 with adoption and publication following as soon as possible thereafter. The fishing sector will be key stakeholders.
• Continue to have an active role the SOWEC - Barriers to Deployment Group, promoting coexistence between the offshore wind and the fishing sector.
• We are investing up to £3.2 million this year into the ScotMER research programme enabling government, regulators and industry to make informed decisions to support the sustainable development of offshore renewables in Scottish waters.
• The work we are undertaking to introduce improved vessel tracking and monitoring on fishing vessels (see Action 9) will help to provide more accurate data on where fishing activity takes place, to support informed decision making for marine planning purposes.

Action 6 - We will strengthen our co-management processes and support transparent and responsive management to a local level wherever possible, in particular by strengthening the RIFG network. As part of this, we will always consider local community impact as part of our decision-making process

We have

• In January 2023, brought our Fisheries Management and Conservation (FMAC) group into a more strategic space to help us to deliver the FFM Strategy and the key policies and actions within it. FMAC has been operating as a ‘hub and spoke’ model, supplemented by a number of technical and issues specific subgroups.
• Enacted a number of improvements to our Regional Inshore Fisheries Groups (RIFG) network in 2023/24 including, recruiting new Chairs, upgrades to the website, delivery of an Operational Plan and improved alignment with Scottish Government Priorities.
• Carried out a substantive review of the RIFG network effectiveness during 2024. This review has been informed by stakeholder surveys, interviews and an external steering group.
• Improved RIFG alignment with our national Fisheries Management and Conservation (FMAC) Inshore sub-group in order to deliver co-management of Scotland’s inshore fisheries along with our stakeholders and provide non-fishing stakeholders insight to RIFG activities.
• During 2024 placed the RIFGs at the heart of our stakeholder-led, bottom-up approach to inshore fisheries improvement, including during the development of interim measures.
• Undertook a review of FMAC during 2024 to check how the new structure is working in practice and intend to make changes to the way FMAC operates in response to stakeholder feedback.

We will

• Refocus the work of RIFGs to work primarily on comms and engagement in support of 2025 priority projects such as interim measures, IFMI and inshore vessel tracking. In addition to this, we will continue to support the Chairs in improving transparency via their Operational Plan and website development.
• Continue to refine the structure, membership and operation of our FMAC group, to a positive and useful forum in which to deliver our co-management approach.
• We will continue to undertake public consultations on substantial policy changes and improvements, undertaking impact assessments as appropriate.

Action 7 – We will deliver a robust licensing regime to manage domestic and foreign vessels fishing in Scottish waters and will improve quota management arrangements for the non-sector fleet which are not administered by a Fish Producer Organisation or Quota Management Groups

Relevant fisheries objectives:

• Equal access objective

We have

• Continued to deliver a clear framework for the management of fisheries in Scotland, providing certainty and stability for businesses to operate in a well-regulated environment.
• Continued to make Special Allocations of Additional Quota (AQ) to our non-sector inshore fleet and have increased the allocation of mackerel, cod and saithe, in recognition of the good uptake of these species.
• We continue to deliver licensing functions for Scottish vessels and work with the UK Single Issuing Authority to licence foreign fishing vessels.

We will

• Explore potential for Community Quota Initiatives - where decisions around quota managed are carried out by community groups.
• Review managements arrangements for the inshore fleet under IFMI
• Continue to deliver a robust licensing regime to manage domestic and foreign fishing vessels.

Action 8 - We will strengthen our quota management processes supported by the right management groups and delivery mechanisms, and through expanding the use of TACs where appropriate

Relevant fisheries objectives

• Sustainability objective
• Precautionary objective
• Scientific objective

We have

• Continued to strengthen our quota management processes to deliver a clear framework for the management of fisheries in Scotland, providing certainty and stability for businesses to operate in a well-regulated environment.
• Commissioned Seafish to undertake initial exploratory work into the development of FMPs for non-quota species.
• Worked with our Producer Organisations and Quota Management Groups to deliver our quota management responsibilities.

We will

• In the longer term, consider the outputs from the Seafish exploratory work on non-quota FMPs. As part of any non-quota FMPs, we will consider expanding the use of TACs for non-quota species.
• Undertake a review of Quota Management Groups.

Action 9 – We will improve accountability and confidence in our seafood products and fishing operations, supported by a robust compliance regime, making full use of existing tools and new available technology, including REM and vessel tracking solutions, to deliver compliance and improve our knowledge base, ensuring that our decisions are grounded in the best available scientific advice and that we fish within sustainable limits

Relevant fisheries objectives:

• Sustainability objective
• Precautionary objective
• Ecosystem objective
• Scientific evidence objective
• Bycatch objective

We have

• Consulted on the use of tracking devices (i-VMS) and the limited use of REM on under 12m vessels, from 14 August to 7 November 2023.
• Introduced a legal requirement for mandatory REM systems to operate for scallop dredge and pelagic vessels in Scottish waters (and Scottish vessels wherever they operate). The scallop dredge provisions took effect in 2024, with the pelagic requirements taking effect in 2026.
• Published the technical specifications for pelagic REM on 31 January 2025 which will support Scottish and non-Scottish vessels to understand the new requirements and comply with the legislation.
• Undertaken development work for the Scottish-led FMPs and agreed a new delivery deadline of end 2026 for these plans to be in place. The FMPs will support strong management across a number of key quota stocks, and will help drive improvements to the management approach where this is needed.

We will

• Take forward the outcomes of the inshore tracking and monitoring consultation, improving the spatial data we hold, and the evidence base we use in our decision-making. This work will sit alongside a wider package of inshore fisheries management improvements (see info on the IFMI Programme).
• Work as part of a cross-UK group to consider future options for the use of VMS onboard 12m and over vessels, including potential increases in data collection.
• In parallel with the work on the Future Catching Policy, consider options for further rollout of REM to additional fleet segments.
• Continue to work with other UK administrations and international partners to consider interoperability of technical standards for REM.
• Develop, consult, and publish the Scottish-led FMPs by end 2026.

Action 10 – We will deliver a robust Catching Policy, in partnership with our stakeholders, which links stock management with responsive and proportionate technical and spatial measures, which delivers a reduction in waste, and which encourages compliance through appropriate enforcement actions, including the application of penalties where appropriate

Relevant fisheries objectives

• Sustainability objective
• Precautionary objective
• Ecosystem objective
• Scientific objective
• Bycatch objective

We have

• Consulted on proposals for a Future Catching Policy from 15 March to 7 June 2022. The Future Catching Policy will deliver additional technical and spatial measures to increase selectivity to reduce unwanted fish catch and reduce bycatch of sensitive marine species, working with stakeholders to explore and deliver pragmatic solutions tailored to consider the varied fleet segments.
• Undertaken selectivity workshops regarding unwanted catch and bycatch of sensitive marine species with stakeholders over Summer/Autumn 2024.
• Addressed the Scottish Government intention to undertake a review of penalties as signalled in the Fisheries Management Strategy work. As part of this we recently commissioned an initial survey on attitudes to compliance directed at Fishers and Compliance officers. We plan to publish this in the spring of 2025.

We will

• Further consult on technical and spatial selectivity measures in 2025.
• Following this consultation secure a suite of measures which will be taken forward into legislation.
• Refine and finalise proposals regarding the discard system under the landing obligation.
• Building on the Fishers’ Behaviour and Attitudes towards Compliance and Enforcement survey, we will undertake further work to ensure penalties are appropriate and effective.

Action 11 – We will work with our stakeholders to deliver an ecosystem-based approach to management, including considering additional protections for spawning and juvenile congregation areas and restricting fishing activity or prohibiting fishing for species which are integral components of the marine food web, such as sandeels

Relevant fisheries objectives:

• Sustainability objective
• Ecosystem objective
• Scientific evidence objective

We have

MPAs and PMFs

• Continued the development of the current phase of fisheries management measures for inshore MPAs and Priority Marine Features which began in 2017.
• Established two processes for developing fisheries management measures: for the Scottish inshore marine region (0-12 nautical miles) and, separately, for the offshore marine region (12-200 nautical miles).
• Identified 76 sites within the inshore marine region and 20 sites within the offshore marine region that fisheries management measures are being developed through engagement with stakeholders. Additionally, over 90 discrete sites for protection of Priority Marine Features from mobile bottom contacting fishing gear are being considered.
• Held extensive in person and online engagement with the fishing industry and other stakeholders to gather evidence on fishing activity to inform the proposed management areas.
• In June 2023, carried out in person local events to understand the potential local and social impacts of proposed fisheries management measures, as part of our new approach to socio-economic impact assessments.
• Consulted on fisheries management measures for offshore MPAs with the measures to be implemented in 2025.

Sandeels

• Our long-held policy position in Scotland, which is also the overarching UK position, is to not support fishing for sandeel in UK waters. For this reason, the UK, supported by the Scottish Government, has not allocated sandeel quota to UK vessels since 2021.
• Introduced new legislation which prohibits the fishing for sandeel. The Sandeel (Prohibition of Fishing) (Scotland) Order 2024 came into force on 26 March 2024, which closed all Scottish waters to fishing for sandeel, for all vessels.
• Prohibited fishing for sandeel in Scottish waters which has the potential to provide long term sustainability and resilience to the marine ecosystem as well as bringing about potential benefits to sandeel, seabirds, marine mammals and other fish species.

Clyde Cod

• Put legislation in place to continue the seasonal Clyde cod spawning closure for 2024 and 2025 between 14 February and 30 April.
• Adjusted the closure area to make it more targeted and focused, allowing some fishing to continue in surrounding areas whilst protecting the cod in the places where it is most likely to be spawning.
• Enhanced our science observer programme in the Clyde during the 2024 closure and published a report on the 2024 Clyde Cod Closure on 10^th January 2025.

Inshore interim measures

• Introduced interim measures for crab and lobster in May 2024 as a first step in our Inshore Fisheries Management Improvement (IFMI) Programme

We will

MPAs & PMFs

• Implement measures to protect the 11 PMFs most vulnerable to bottom contacting fishing gear outside of MPAs, on the basis of evidence gathered.
• Have fisheries closures to protect VMEs in offshore waters, outside of marine protected areas (MPAs), between 400-800m depth in place by 2027.
• Treat as a priority the need to have management measures for our existing Marine Protected Areas (MPA) network and protecting our Priority Marine Features (PMFs).
• Work with the other UK administrations as part of the UK Benthic Impacts Working Group to consider the impacts of fishing and other human activity on benthic habitats and will consider appropriate actions.
• Work closely with communities to help them to realise the economic, social, cultural and biodiversity benefits of community action to protect the marine environment.
• Consider, with a Just Transition lens, how to mitigate impacts of fisheries management measures for marine protected areas on fisheries.

Clyde cod

• Following the 2025 closure there will be a public consultation on future management. That consultation will assess any changes that have happened since 2022 and make recommendations for the future on that basis.
• We will collaborate with fishermen on science and data collection, including in the Clyde region to inform our decision-making.

Inshore interim measures

• We will carry out a substantive review of our use of interim measures.
• Our review will be informed by stakeholder experiences, as well as updated scientific and socio-economic evidence. As part of this process, we will meet with our stakeholders to share learnings so far, and to considering how best to utilise Interim Measures in the future.

Action 12 - We will take action to understand and mitigate the impacts of climate change on our seas, including supporting delivery of the Scottish Government’s net zero targets including by reducing vessel emissions and encouraging shorter supply chains. In addition, we will support and encourage sustainable waste management in our fleets, growing our circular economy and reducing marine litter

Relevant fisheries objectives

• Sustainability objective
• Climate change objective

We have

Fisheries Climate Change

• Sought our stakeholders’ views, attitudes and perceptions around climate change in a survey during COP 26. The findings can be accessed here: Fisheries and Climate Change: Opinions from Key Stakeholders in Scotland’s Wild Capture Fishing Sector
• Set up the Fisheries Management and Conservation (FMAC) Climate Change Subgroup in January 2023 to help us in our journey and to build our knowledge and understanding of both climate mitigation and adaptation.
• Commissioned and completed a range of research projects to develop our baseline and identify remaining knowledge gaps and the findings can be accessed via these links: Assessing greenhouse gas emissions from Scotland’s fishing fleet (climatexchange.org.uk); Review of fishing practices;
• Provided MFS funding to Fisheries Innovation and Sustainability (FIS) who, in partnership with Scottish naval architects at Macduff Ship Design have developed detailed concept designs for net zero fishing vessels. You can read the three reports here: Phase 1 (FIS_Net-Zero-Vessels_Stage-1-Report.pdf (fisorg.uk); Phase 2 (Final-FIS-Concept-Design-Report.pdf (fisorg.uk)); Phase 3 (Final-Report-FIS-Net-Zero-Fishing-Vessels-Stage-3.pdf (fisorg.uk))
• We commissioned research to progress our thinking around adaptation to climate change and the findings are here: Informing Scotland’s fisheries policies to be adapted and resilient to climate change and ocean acidification

We will

• Continue working with stakeholders to further improve our knowledge base and develop firm actions
• Continue to embed climate change into our policies going forward.

We have

Marine Litter

• published the refreshed Marine Litter Strategy in September 2022. Actions include supporting the marine sector to improve the collection and recycling of end-of-life gear, as well as supporting marine litter removal.
• Commissioned and published considerable research to inform the development of waste management options to be considered with stakeholder engagement, including an inventory of all gear in use and annual waste arisings.
• Worked with the European Committee for Standardisation to develop a standard to improve the circular design and recyclability of fishing and aquaculture gear, published in November 2024.
• Continued to support KIMO’s Fishing for Litter initiative, supporting marine litter education and providing facilities to dispose of litter collected by fishers at sea.
• Provided funding through Marine Fund Scotland to support a gear recycling initiative.

We will

• Engage with industry stakeholders to develop policy options to support the improved collection and recycling of fishing and aquaculture gear.
• Promote the adoption of the circular design and recyclability requirements of the Standard across the fishing and aquaculture gear supply chain.