Identify high risk areas, gear types and/or fisheries for bycatch and entanglement of sensitive marine species, in which to focus monitoring and mitigation.
Objective 3: Embed nature positive Farming, Fishing and Forestry
Priority Action 17. Implement the policies in Scotland’s Fisheries Management Strategy to deliver sustainable fisheries, using best available scientific advice, and minimising adverse impacts on nontarget species and habitats.
The Marine Wildlife Bycatch Mitigation Initiative operates at UK level and applies in Scotland, but there is limited publicly available evidence showing how it is being specifically operationalised into targeted Scottish spatial risk mapping or enforcement action. In Scotland, current activity appears to be mainly delivered through routine monitoring and research outputs such as the Scottish Entanglement Alliance project.
Proposals within the current Future Catching Policy (FCP) consultation include measures on bycatch reporting and potential gear adaptations (including creel modifications), but these remain at consultation stage and have not yet been implemented as formal management measures.
There is no published Scottish-wide framework yet identifying a complete set of high-risk bycatch areas, gear types, or fisheries linked to targeted mitigation action.
Scientific evidence from Marine Scotland, NatureScot, and the Scottish Entanglement Alliance shows that bycatch and entanglement risk is not uniform and is strongly associated with specific fisheries (particularly static gear such as creels) and spatial hotspots where sensitive marine species are present.
This evidence supports targeted mitigation as an effective approach to reduce mortality of species such as cetaceans and seabirds. However, ecological outcomes depend on translating monitoring and risk identification into spatially targeted management measures and gear restrictions.
As current activity is largely monitoring and consultation-based, with no confirmed Scotland-wide operational risk framework in place, ecological benefits remain potential rather than fully realised.
Scottish Entanglement Alliance
Scottish Government – Future Catching Policy consultation (selectivity and bycatch measures)
Consult on proposals to transition our inshore fisheries to a more agile and responsive management system informed by the best available evidence.
Develop 21 Fisheries Management Plans as set out in the Joint Fisheries Statement to increase or maintain the sustainability of fish stocks.
Develop and implement a suite of technical and spatial measures to reduce levels of discarding of ‘unwanted’ fish catch alongside measures to reduce bycatch of sensitive marine species.
Work with stakeholders to focus on identifying practical, achievable actions to reduce pressure on seafloor habitats most at risk or most extensively impacted informed as appropriate by the development of an OSPAR Regional Action Plan on benthic shelf habitats.
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