Fishing quota - additional allocation from 2024: island communities impact assessment

Step Six – Making Adjustments

Possible alternative delivery mechanisms/mitigations for different island communities

AQ could be given to specific communities for them to distribute and manage and Community Quota Schemes may provide a model that could be developed further around managing quota for island communities. There are, or have recently been, CQS initiatives in operation on Shetland, Orkney and na h-Eileanan Siar, though as stakeholders pointed out, these would favour receiving quota free from the Scottish Government as an alternative to accessing quota through dummy licenses. This would require further consultation and time and resources to set up any management group other than currently recognised (Producer Organisations, Scottish Quota Management Groups and the Scottish non-sector) and therefore would not offer any immediate solution for 2024, though views were sought on the concept in the Calls for Evidence section of the AQ consultation. As noted, we intend to explore this matter further.

Vessels could be adapted for alternative netting, jigging and lining methods provided sufficient monthly quotas are available, however for infrastructure and markets to be developed long term confidence in AQ availability would be required.

Any major changes on policies regarding specific AQ allocation mechanisms or mitigation would likely require further consultation.

Measuring outcomes

The policy is currently being developed from the consultation responses and specific islands considerations will be assessed at all stages.

No additional data gathering is planned beyond existing routine statistical reporting, though this will be kept under review.