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Next steps to ensure sustainable fisheries in
Scotland.
Proposals to introduce electronic tracking and monitoring
technology for small fishing vessels will be consulted on as part
of package of new fisheries measures announced today.
The consultation proposes that vessel tracking devices will be
required by Scottish commercial fishing vessels under 12 metres
in length wherever they operate, and by all vessels of the that
size when they operate in Scottish waters. It also asks whether
Remote Electric Monitoring systems (REM) – which are more
sophisticated than vessel tracking – should be required on some
inshore vessels.
Rolling out such technology across Scotland’s fishing fleet would
show that vessels are operating sustainably and within the law,
increasing consumer confidence in Scottish seafood. They would
also provide valuable data which would help fisheries to be
managed more sustainably and informing marine planning,
benefiting Scotland’s fishing industry and the marine
environment.
Environment Minister , who met with fishing
industry representatives in Peterhead today, said:
“These proposals will support the sustainable management and
development of our marine environment – the next step in
delivering a blue economy that benefits our communities, economy
and environment. I encourage the inshore sector and others with
an interest to continue to engage with us and to take part in the
consultation on vessel monitoring.
“Government, industry and communities all have a shared interest
and commitment to a healthy marine environment. Open dialogue and
constructive working of the sort that has helped to develop these
proposals will ensure that we benefit from the expertise of the
fishing industry. Cooperation and co-management will ensure that
both Scotland’s fishing industry and our marine environment can
thrive sustainably.”
The Scottish Government has also published the outcome of two
consultations:
- Remote Electric Monitoring (REM) will become mandatory on
large pelagic vessels and all scallop dredge vessels in Scottish
waters. Further rollout of REM will be considering alongside the
Future Catching Policy development.
- Future Catching Policy will take concrete action to increase
the sustainability of our fishing activity, supporting fishers to
avoid catching fish and other sensitive marine species which they
don’t want to land, or catch in the first place
These announcements represent the next steps in Scotland’s
Fisheries Management Strategy - which has been developed in
partnership with the fishing industry and other stakeholders. The
package of measures within the Strategy helps place Scotland in a
leading international position to deliver sustainable fishing.
Background
The inshore vessel tracking and monitoring consultation is open
until 7 November 2023 and can be completed on the Scottish Government
consultation hub.
The outcome reports of the consultation on REM can be read at:
The outcome reports of the consultation on Future Catching Policy
can be read at:
