Use of quota to incentivise low impact fishing 2023: report

3. Landings in 2023

Quota stocks were landed using eight different gear groups in 2023 (Table 1). The most commonly used gear by weight of landings was trawls. Approximately three quarters of landings using trawls were pelagic species, where these are midwater trawls.

There were differences in gear used by fishing vessels according to fleet segment and stock type (Figure 1). These are considered in further detail in the following section.

3.1 Landings by Fleet Segment: Sectoral Vessels

Sectoral vessels used seven different gear groups in 2023. Given their dominant position in the fishing of quota stocks, the pattern largely replicates that seen in Table 1 for fishing vessels as a whole, though sectoral vessels did not tend to use traps to any significant degree in contrast to the non-sector. Pelagic stocks constituted the largest portion of landings at around three quarters of the total landings of sectoral vessels. These were principally caught using midwater trawls with smaller amounts caught using surrounding nets and hooks and lines. Demersal stocks were targeted by trawls and to a lesser extent by using seine nets, hooks and lines and gill nets. Nephrops was targeted principally by trawls within this fleet segment.

Reflecting its majority share of quota stocks, the sectoral fleet was the most active fleet segment, with catch records across the greatest portion of Scotland’s seas (Figure 2).

3.2 Landings by Fleet Segment: Non-sector

The non-sector is divided into vessels that are 10 metres in length and under, and vessels that are over 10 metres in length. There were differences in the gear use of these two groups. The non-sector primarily accesses quota opportunities through Special Allocations, where a portion of existing and additional quota is reserved for these vessels. It should be noted that both the over 10 metre and 10 metre and under non-sector fleets target non-quota species (total non quota stock landings of 15,103 tonnes compared to total quota stock landings of 3,717 by these fleet segments in 2023). Non-quota stock landings do not form part of this report.

The allocation of a share of quota stocks to the non-sector contributes towards the achievement of the national benefit objective of the Fisheries Act by offering a diversification opportunity. Non-quota stocks, which in the case of this fleet segment principally means shellfish, are however under pressure of overexploitation. Work is underway to implement a more agile inshore fisheries management system to help improve management, with a consultation planned for early 2026.

In 2023, the non-sector fleet did not catch all of the Special Allocations made available to them. This is a consequence of the focus on non-quota species (which require different fishing gear and fishing expertise) and the geographical differences in fleet and gear composition which are explained in further detail in the following sections.

3.2.1 Landings by 10 metre and under non-sector vessels

The 10 metre and under portion of the non-sector fleet segment used six different gear groups to land quota stocks in 2023. Unlike the sectoral vessels, the dominant gear was hook and line by landings and traps by value (Table 3). Hook and line activity was principally enabled by the 2023 QMRs reserving 1000 tonnes of mackerel EQ to be fished using this group in ICES areas 27.4.a and 27.4.b. Among demersal stocks, cod was the principal species targeted by hooks and lines by this fleet segment, alongside smaller quantities of saithe, pollack and haddock. Trawl and trap-focused fishing targeted Nephrops mainly.

This fleet segment was active in the inshore, with the greatest activity around Shetland, where the bulk of non-sector vessels targeting quota stocks (chiefly mackerel) with hooks and lines were based (Figure 3).

Not all Special Allocations to this fleet segment were fully utilised (Table 4). While North Sea mackerel, North Sea cod, North sea skates and rays were fully utilised, the remaining stocks for which Special Allocations were made were not fully taken advantage of. A consultation was run in 2023 on options for allocation of AQ and feedback received from inshore fishing interests mentioned problems with the duration of catch limits set by Marine Directorate for some stocks and difficulty in using Special Allocations as collateral to finance vessel modification to target stocks as factors that could explain low uptake in some circumstances.

Table Note: A: acquired North Sea cod in exchange, B: acquired North Sea cod in exchange, C: exchanged with a sectoral group to be returned in 2024, D: acquired North Sea cod in exchange, E: special allocation removed.

3.2.2 Landings by over 10 metre non-sector vessels

The over 10 metre non-sector fleet segment was allocated 100 tonnes each of mackerel in 2023 to fish with hooks and lines in ICES areas 27.6 and 27.7, however none of this opportunity was pursued. Other landings of non-Nephrops quota stocks were in keeping with catch limits maintained by Marine Directorate quota managers to allow small by-catches of demersal species to be recorded. This fleet segment used five gear groups in 2023. This fleet segment otherwise focuses on non-quota species and Nephrops (Table 5).

The activity of this fleet segment was concentrated around the inshore, fishing for Nephrops using either traps or trawls (Figure 4).