Question reference: S1W-00864
- Asked by: Richard Lochhead, MSP for North East Scotland, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 10 August 1999
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Current status: Answered by John Home Robertson on 19 August 1999
Question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of fishing licences in circulation, by category, for each of the last ten years.
Answer
The Scottish Executive does not hold centrally comprehensive data on fishing licences prior to 1996. The number of licences administered by Scottish Ports on January 1 for the last four years is shown in the following table:
| Category | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 |
| A-White Fish | 884 | 929 | 964 | 1015 |
| A-Pelagic | 53 | 52 | 56 | 58 |
| B | 96 | 97 | 98 | 110 |
| C | 72 | 68 | 69 | 75 |
| Under 10 metres | 1693 | 1640 | 1633 | 1574 |
| Other | 2 | 5 | 12 | 28 |
| Total | 2800 | 2791 | 2832 | 2860 |
Category A licences, split into white fish and pelagic, entitle holders to fish for most relevant species and in most areas. Categories B and C impose further restrictions according to both species and area. Under 10 metre licences are restricted to vessels of this length or under.The figures include licences on vessels and those held as entitlements.