Nephrops fleet - optimisation modelling: policy brief

Introduction

The Nephrops^[1] fishery was the second most valuable for Scottish vessels in 2018, after mackerel. The Scottish fleet landed over 18,000 tonnes of Nephrops in 2018 worth an estimated £63 million. This is almost 11% of the total value of landings by Scottish vessels. The Scottish fleet landed around 38% of the world’s total supply of Nephrops in 2017. 

Scotland’s Nephrops fishery provides substantial employment through both direct employment on-board vessels and indirectly through various onshore jobs. Many of these jobs and much of the economic activity occurs in Scotland’s more remote coastal communities. The Scottish Nephrops fishery contributes to the following Scottish Government National Performance Framework goals, including:

• We see our natural landscape and wilderness as essential to our identity and way of life. 
• We take a bold approach to enhancing and protecting our natural assets and heritage. 
• We are committed to environmental justice and preserving planetary resources for future generations.
• We successfully attract and retain new talent and fully support business and social enterprise. 
• We take seriously the wellbeing and skills of our workforce and provide good quality, fair work, training and employment support for all. 

Marine Scotland monitors Scotland’s different fisheries and regularly undertakes research to develop an evidence base for policy development and fisheries management to increase the contribution to the above goals. This policy brief and accompanying research report (available under “supporting files”) are part of this effort. This policy brief sets out a summary of the research approach and findings, as well as the context within which Marine Scotland commissioned this research. The research has provided valuable input into the evidence base on the Nephrops fishery, and this policy brief discusses a number of policy considerations and next steps.