Fishing quota - additional allocation from 2024: equality impact assessment

Stage 2: Data and evidence gathering, involvement and consultation

Age

The average age of crew on the sampled Scottish fleet and the total Scottish and UK labour force are comparable at around 40 years old (Seafish Seafish survey of Employment in the UK fleet in 2021). No Data gaps identified.

Disability

We are not aware of any relevant existing evidence at this time on disability in relation to this policy. There are data gaps here as there is a lack of data on disability in the fishing sector. No action taken in this assessment to address this gap.

Sex/Gender

Women are in the minority in the catching sector. In a sample of 337 people employed in the catching sector in 2021 only 1 was female.

Women do a wide range of jobs including roles in fish capture, trading, seafood processing, management, administration, and looking after families. The policy brief suggest that “Women’s contributions are often seen as “help” rather than “work””. Women make up about half of the seafood processing workforce (Seafish survey of Employment in the UK fleet in 2021; Women in Scottish Fisheries report 2022). No data gaps identified.

Pregnancy and Maternity

We are not aware of any relevant existing evidence at this time on pregnancy and maternity in relation to this policy. No data gaps identified.

Gender Reassignment

We are not aware of any relevant existing evidence at this time on gender reassignment in relation to this policy. There are data gaps here as there is a lack of data on gender reassignment in the fishing sector. No action taken in this assessment to address this gap.

Sexual Orientation

We are not aware of any relevant existing evidence at this time on sexual orientation in relation to this policy. There are data gaps here as there is a lack of data on sexual orientation in the fishing sector. No action taken in this assessment to address this gap.

Race/Nationality

Scottish vessels, had a third of workers coming from outside the UK with most of these workers are employed on demersal trawlers over 10m (2021 Seafish survey of Employment in the UK Fishing Fleet). No data gaps identified.

Religion or Belief

We are not aware of any relevant existing evidence at this time on religion or belief in relation to this policy. There are data gaps here as there is a lack of data on religion or belief in the fishing sector. No action taken in this assessment to address this gap.

Marriage and Civil Partnership^[3]

The Scottish Government does not require assessment against this protected characteristic unless the policy or practice relates to work, for example HR policies and practices.