Question reference: S6W-25394
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 9 February 2024
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Current status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 6 March 2024
Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will introduce consultations on (a) applying a cap to fishing activity in inshore waters and (b) the management of marine protected areas, and how it will conduct both of these consultations in a way that ensures that those affected understand the proposals and are able to take part in the consultation in a meaningful way.
Answer
The Scottish Government will explore proposals relating to inshore fishing activity as part of a broad package of management measures for inshore fisheries improvement that we will consult on in late 2024.
Our co-management Fisheries Management and Conservation (FMAC) and Regional Inshore Fisheries Group (RIFG) networks will help shape our consultation proposals, enabling policy that balances our economic and environmental responsibilities. Wider stakeholder engagement on the development of fisheries management measures is ongoing and will continue during the consultation.
For both inshore and offshore MPA consultations, over and above our normal stakeholder engagement, we are using an innovative consultation approach to allow respondents to use a map-based interface to receive information and comment on a site-by-site basis, allowing those affected to understand more clearly the proposals that affect them. The consultation on fisheries management measures for offshore marine protected areas (MPAs) is currently being prepared and will be launched in the coming months, and the exact date for the inshore MPAs and priority marine features will be announced in due course.