The elephant in the room when it comes to managing Scottish fisheries
Few industries are as woven into Scotland’s coastal identity as fishing and few face a more complex management challenge. The variety of different fishing methods and patterns that make up the fleet in Scotland need to be managed in different ways to lessen their interactions and impacts on the marine environment and support sustainable opportunities and coastal livelihoods. In reality, the approach to […]
Environment groups furious as marine protections delayed again
Environment charities have reacted with fury after the Scottish government announced yesterday that fisheries restrictions in marine protected areas, originally due to be implemented in 2016, are to be delayed for the fourth time. Yesterday Gillian Martin, Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy, said a promised consultation on fisheries management measures for inshore marine […]
New management measures for Scotland’s seas beyond marine protected areas
The newly published proposals for protecting priority marine features outside of marine protected areas (MPAs), which are expected to open for formal public consultation in November along with proposals for fisheries restrictions for inshore MPAs, are designed to help close the gap that exists in protection.
Scottish deep sea protections: a welcome step after years of delay
The Scottish government announced new fisheries management measures for offshore marine protected areas (MPAs) on 1 September, marking an important step in fulfilling its obligations to protect marine wildlife across a large area of Scotland’s seas. Scotland’s offshore MPAs – those beyond 12 nautical miles from the shore – were designated more than 10 years ago [...]
Deepening our understanding of life below the waves: introducing ocean literacy
By Rebecca Crawford, Marine Policy Officer at the Scottish Wildlife Trust Introduction As a maritime nation with over 900 islands and one of the longest coastlines in Europe, the marine cultural heritage of Scotland is deeply ingrained. However, there is a disconnect between people and the ocean, with many people now calling for a better […]
Why didn’t John Swinney mention the sea?
Getting the long-delayed fisheries management measures in place in our marine protected areas is not only a crucial step towards restoring our seas to health. It’s essential for the future of Scotland’s small-scale inshore fishing industry. More protection means more fish, means more local, sustainable jobs.