Sea fishing - Firth of Clyde seasonal closures: Operation Galene

Roles, responsibilities and resources

Marine Directorate has a number of assets based within the Firth of Clyde area, including both marine and coastal assets.

Marine

Marine Protection Vessels (MPVs) will be tasked to patrol the Clyde for at least 50% of the closure, focussing on the more exposed areas. 

• the inshore protection programme (IPP) will have a Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) based at Largs marina and tasked to patrol the closures from the commencement of the order and for the duration of the closure
• all patrols will be high profile with AIS turned on
• additional assets will be tasked to the Clyde to provide essential contingency if required
• additional staff are available by utilising Coastal Boarding Officers (CBOs) who are based at coastal officers
• asset tasking will be reviewed regularly, depending on any intelligence received and in line with our Risk Model

Coastal

• Marine Directorate also have two offices around the Clyde, one based in Campbeltown and the other in Ayr. Both are fully staffed and will be available for logistical support, communications, enforcement support and liaison with stakeholders. These will provide some of the CBOs, which will bring local knowledge.
• other Marine Directorate offices will also be available over the period bringing extra resilience

Aerial

• Marine Directorate surveillance aircraft may be available for periods depending on other priorities and weather conditions

Non-operational staff

The operation may generate some media and political interest. There will be staff available from Enforcement Standards and Operational Assurance (ESOA), the Risk and Intelligence Team, policy and legal colleagues, ministerial advisors, and the communications team.

Scientific staff

The operation of  Marine Protection Vessels (MPVs) in the Clyde during the closure period provides the opportunity for Marine Directorate scientists to enhance scientific data collection. Current plans for discussion with stakeholders are for a scientific observer to participate in vessel boardings during two separate periods and collect data on the catches and biological parameters including spawning and maturity status of any cod brought aboard. MPV Hirta will also be utilised for the recovery of two passive acoustic moorings deployed from the Marine Research Vessel (MRV) Scotia. These will be recovered at the end of the spawning closure and acoustic data analysed for the potential detection of cod spawning activity.