Sandeel fishing consultation: draft partial business and regulatory impact assessment

Options

Option 0: Do nothing

Under the "Do Nothing" option, sandeel would continue to be a jointly managed stock between the UK and the EU. EU access to Scottish waters would continue, as agreed through the UK/EU TCA. Scottish Government would continue to support sandeel quota not being allocated to Scottish vessels, as has been the practice across the UK since 2021.

Option 1: Complete closure of all Scottish waters to sandeel fishing (preferred option)

The preferred option of the Scottish Government is close fishing for sandeel in all Scottish waters for the 2024 fishing season onwards. This option would limit vessels of all nationalities from fishing for sandeel in Scottish waters and would align with the UK Government's preferred option of closure of English Waters within the North Sea.

Option 2: Extension of the existing closure to all of sandeel management area 4 only

One alternative option for the management of the sandeel fishery is to extend the current closure to the whole of sandeel area 4. Area 4 is a main sandeel fishing ground, and in closing this whole area it could allow for improvement of the sandeel stock. This closure would be extended to all vessels.

Option 3: Seasonal closure of the sandeel fishery

This option would be for a seasonal closure of the sandeel fishery thereby only allowing fishing for part of the year.

Option 4: Voluntary closure of the sandeel fishery

This option would involve entering a voluntary agreement to stop the fishing of sandeel in Scottish waters. However, this has been considered to be a complex option that would also not be able to deliver the objectives.