The Scottish government has proposed a raft of new measures to make Scotland a world leader in sustainable stocks management.
The proposals, published for consultation, include technology to help reduce bycatch, simplified rules around discard, and mandatory electronic monitoring for vessels in Scottish waters.
Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon highlighted the diversity of Scotland’s seas and the contribution that the fishing industry makes to the economy and cultural fabric of coastal communities.
“Now, more than ever, the spotlight is on the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, which require urgent action in order to deliver change on a significant and long-lasting scale,” she said.
“I would urge stakeholders to get involved in these consultations and play a part in securing a sustainable marine environment for future generations.”
New measures
Additional technical and spatial management measures are being proposed to reduce the bycatch of vulnerable species such as seabird, seals and dolphins.
Rules governing the discarding of fish will be simplified and remote electronic monitoring to ensure fishing activity is sustainable and lawful will be made mandatory.
The rules will apply to all vessels, regardless of origin, fishing in Scottish waters and the consultations can be found at the government website.
