Management Proposals of Inshore Fisheries Groups: Strategic Environmental Assessment Post Adoption Statement

4. Issues relating to other reasonable alternatives

4.1 The Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 requires that reasonable alternatives be assessed. At the scoping stage it was envisaged that all the proposed management measures comprised all the reasonable alternatives identified through the IFG management plan preparation process, which had involved considerable consultation. This was agreed by the Consultation Authorities.

4.2 It was noted in the scoping report that, should other reasonable alternatives be identified in the course of the assessment (including for mitigation purposes), these would be included. No additional alternatives were identified in the course of this assessment.

4.3 Most respondents were content with this approach, including the Consultation Authorities. One respondent considered that the IFG management plan proposals should have considered a wider range of management measures as reasonable alternatives, including (amongst others) no-take-zones, spatial restrictions, and measures to minimise bycatch. However, Marine Scotland would hope that IFGs will take greater consideration of the management tools available to them in order to protect stocks and the marine environment where action is needed, when progressing future management proposals. It should also be remembered that Marine Scotland has competence in inshore management, and measures such as no-take-zones and spatial restrictions are being looked at as part of Marine Scotland's reviews into scallop management in Scotland and the management of inshore fisheries.