SCOTS WEST COAST FISHERS CALL FOR PRAGMATIC APPROACH TO MPAS

Whilst the Scottish Government has shelved its controversial Highly Protected Marine Area (HPMA) plan following protests from the fishing sector and others, there is still concern in Scottish coastal communities about the implementation of strict closed areas to fishing through ‘back door’ mechanisms.

A more ‘community’ driven approach to conservation has been suggested by politicians as an alternative way forward, but the definition of ‘communities’ in this respect, and what it means for fishing, has not been defined.

Instead of HPMAs, Scottish ministers are anticipated to develop policies around the management of fishing in marine protected areas and priority marine features.

Elaine Whyte, executive secretary of the Clyde Fishermen’s Association, told Fish Focus that the recent Scottish Biodiversity Consultation explored the concept of extending the statutory powers of National Parks.  Simultaneously regional areas of Scotland are currently being considered for National Park status, covering both terrestrial and marine areas.  Many fishing communities are alive to the potential that a suite of measures including Priority Marine Features (PMF) designations and National Parks may mirror the impact which HPMAs would have wrought on fragile fishing communities, unless managed in a sensible and pragmatic manner.

The PMF list includes a range of habitats and species that have been identified as being of conservation importance in Scotland, the UK, the North-east Atlantic and globally. For example, burrowed mud, seagrass beds, maerl beds, coral gardens and deep-sea sponge aggregations are all included.

Elaine Whyte says: “Our members are committed to marine conservation and avoiding vulnerable marine features, but our concern is that the end-result are blanket fishing bans, rather than recognising that fishing can co-exist in these areas without causing harm.  Technologies exist such as Anchorlab, which permits fishing to occur and features to be avoided using depth sensors.”

Meanwhile, the Scottish Government is exploring potential interim measures to improve the health of crab and lobster stocks, and inshore fisheries in general, which will include consultation on a package of measures by the end of 2024, and advancing proposals for Inshore Vessel Monitoring Systems for the under-12m fleet.

Fishermen in some regions of the west coast of Scotland have imposed voluntary restrictions of the number of creels individual boats can use. A three-year pilot scheme in the Western Isles in which the number of creels is limited per boat, prompted Clyde fishermen to follow suit. The CFA three-year pilot initiative was proposed through the West Coast Regional Inshore Fisheries Group and is supported by the Marine Directorate of the Scottish Government.

Elaine Whyte said: “Rather than continually have measures imposed upon us, this initiative demonstrates how fishermen can pro-actively take conservation into their own hands and make a real difference working with government.”