Consultation on the Proposed Introduction of new Statutory Scallop Fishing Management Measures – Outcome Report

Introduction

This report provides detailed analysis of each element of the Consultation on the Proposed Introduction of new Statutory Scallop Fishing Management Measures. It looks at the responses provided to each consultation question and provides an analysis of the views of particular groups highlighting trends and issues where appropriate.

Background to the consultation

Marine Scotland issued the Consultation on the Proposed Introduction of new Statutory Scallop Fishing Management Measures on 23 January 2012 and the consultation closed on 16 April 2012.

The consultation sought views on two areas. Firstly, it requested opinions on the introduction of new measures in the dredge fishery forming part of a more closely aligned Scottish/English management regime. The first three questions sought consensus on the three main aspects of this joint management approach:

Question 1 - Do you support the introduction of a flat rate 8 per side limit on dredges within the 12 nautical mile zone?

Question 2 - Do you support the removal of restrictions on dredges outside 12 nautical miles of the Scottish coast?

Question 3 - Do you support exempting from regulation, attachments to dredges whose purpose is to increase the safety and speed with which dredges can be handled?

The remaining two questions sought opinion in relation to increasing the minimum landing size of scallops that can be landed into Scotland.

Question 4 - Would you support the introduction of a phased increase in the minimum landing size for scallops from 100mm to 105mm and then to 110mm?

Question 5 - Do you agree that all scallops landed into Scotland and carried within the Scottish zone must comply with the Scottish minimum landing size?

The consultation document outlined the rationale for adopting each of the proposals and welcomed views from those interested in responding.

Consultation Responses

Fifty-one consultation responses were received by (or shortly after) the closing date for the consultation of 16 April 2012. The breakdown of the 51 responses is shown in Table 1.

Table 1 - Breakdown of those who responded by group

Methodology

Consultation questions were set out in such as way as to invite closed responses (yes/no answers), however many respondents extended on answers and/or included additional text, which has required qualitative analysis.