Sandeel fishing: consultation

9. Conclusion

Sandeel play an important role in the North Sea food web as a key resource for predatory fish, seabirds and marine mammals. Declines in sandeel availability and abundance may negatively impact the survival and reproduction of ecologically important species, therefore closure of the sandeel fishery has the potential to bring about wider ecosystem benefits to a range of species as well as improving resilience to changes in the marine environment. For example, restricting sandeel fishing may lead to an increase in sandeel abundance, survival and potentially availability, thereby providing benefits to other North Sea top predators, including key whitefish species, seabirds and marine mammals.

Previous sandeel closures on the east coast of Scotland have shown how breeding success in some seabird species is influenced by the abundance and availability of sandeel. Furthermore, improved body condition in some marine mammal species has also been linked to the proportion of sandeel in their diet. Therefore, any increase in sandeel abundance that might result from a reduction in fishing pressure could be beneficial to several marine predators given their dependence on sandeel as a prey source.

However, the extent to which these benefits could be realised for predatory fish, seabirds and marine mammals is unpredictable due to variation in sandeel abundance and availability which is driven by fishing mortality and, to a large extent, by natural mortality which is influenced by prevailing environmental conditions (including climate change) and predation. Any benefits, if realised, would not be immediate and would vary with location and species. In the case of seabirds, many global populations are declining with breeding seabirds in the UK not meeting GES. Seabirds face a range of pressures including habitat loss, biosecurity, infectious disease (such as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza), climate change, storm events, human disturbance to breeding birds and predation of both chicks and adult seabirds. Maximising the abundance and availability of sandeel stock as prey for seabirds (through the introduction of management measures in Scottish waters) therefore remains a key mechanism by which resilience in seabird populations might be achieved.

Closure of the sandeel fishery in Scottish waters could also reduce bycatch of valuable fish stocks such as whiting, haddock and mackerel.

This evidence is supported by the outcomes of a public call for evidence in 2021 to better inform considerations on the future management of sandeel in UK waters. These responses acknowledged that sandeel has a high ecological value to the entire marine ecosystem and most responses were in favour of implementing new management measures for sandeel.

Subject to the outcome of this consultation, the Scottish Government proposes to close fishing for sandeel in all Scottish waters from the 2024 fishing season onwards.

Views are invited on all issues raised in this paper and responses to the questions posed in Annex B. We would ask for views to be received no later than 13 October 2023 and the team is available to discuss.

What questions does the consultation seek to consider?

1. Do you support the preferred option to close fishing for sandeel in all Scottish waters?

2. If your answer is no to question 1. do you have any views on alternative or complementary measures that could be considered in the longer-term for the protection of sandeel in Scottish waters (please see the SEA Environmental Report for alternatives).

3. Is there any further evidence that should be considered in terms of the potential benefits or value of the preferred option that could be considered?

4. Is there any further evidence that should be considered to demonstrate any impact on island communities?

5. Do you have any comments on the assumptions made in the partial Business and Regulatory Impact Assessments (BRIA) concerning the costs and benefits of the option?

6. Do you have any comments on the SEA Environmental Report?