The Sustainable Inshore Fisheries Trust (SIFT) is calling for “more ambition” in the management of Scotland’s coastal seas, which it says are massively under-resourced compared to England.
Research carried out by the Trust revealed that Scotland’s Inshore Fishery Groups (IFGs), which are responsible for managing inshore waters, are falling behind in terms of resources and overall remit.
“There is little doubt that the management and compliance monitoring of Scotland’s inshore waters is being starved of resources and falls far behind the situation in England,” said Charles Millar, director, SIFT.
The coastline of mainland Scotland, together with its main islands, covers more than 11,500 miles – almost double that of mainland England and its main islands.
Despite this, England’s network of ten Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (IFCAs) has a combined annual budget of over £8.6m, compared to Scotland’s 12 IFGs and their £2m a year budget.
“In essence Scotland is trying to manage inshore fisheries that cover almost twice the length of England’s coast with less than 25% of the budget. The Scottish Government’s current review of the proposals of IFGs represents a great opportunity for Scotland to redress the balance and show its commitment to the sustainable management of our valuable coastal seas,” he added.
SIFT says it’s also concerned about the encouragement to regenerate inshore habitats and commercial fish stocks.
