Current status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 7 October 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) percentage and (b) area in km2 of (i) inshore Marine Protected Areas and (ii) other inshore waters have year-round spatial restrictions on (A) scallop dredging, (B) nephrops trawling, (C) both scallop dredging and nephrops trawling, (D) creeling and (E) all commercial fishing.
The area calculated for restrictions is based on where there is a limit on the fishing activity all year round dependent on, for example, vessel size and power usage as well as where there is a complete ban on that type of fishing activity in a designated site as part of the MPA network and other inshore waters. The Scottish Government are currently developing fisheries management measures for MPAs where they are required, but not already in place, and for Priority Marine Feature (PMF) management areas outside of MPAs and aim to launch a public consultation in November.
The presumption for MPAs is that their use will be sustainable use, therefore fishing gears restricted in MPAs is based on their potential impact on the protected features of the site, usually allowing some fishing to continue. In other inshore waters not all areas are suitable for trawling and dredging therefore there will be areas that have never been considered for restrictions.
(a) The area of Marine Protected Areas where scallop dredging is currently restricted is 4,753 square kilometres. This is 13% of waters in the inshore MPA network.
The area of other inshore waters where scallop dredging is currently restricted is 3,315 square kilometres. This is approximately 6.3% of the inshore area outwith the MPA network.
(b) Nephrops trawling is included in measures restricting trawl, bottom trawl or mobile gear. The numbers presented below reflect this. The area of Marine Protected Areas where nephrops trawling is currently restricted is 5,084 square kilometres. This is 13% of waters in the inshore MPA network.
The area of other inshore waters where nephrops trawling is currently restricted is 3,313 square kilometres. This is approximately 6.3% of the inshore area outwith the MPA network.
(c) The area of Marine Protected Areas where both scallop dredging and nephrops trawling is currently restricted is 4,665 square kilometres. This is 12% of waters in the inshore MPA network. This was calculated in areas where there are overlapping restrictions on both scallop dredging and nephrops trawling not the individual percentage and area for each gear type added together.
The area of other inshore waters where both scallop dredging and nephrops trawling is currently restricted is 3307 square kilometres. This is approximately 6.2% of the inshore area outwith the MPA network.
(d) The area of Marine Protected Areas where creeling is currently restricted is 2,659 square kilometres. This is 7% of waters in the inshore MPA network.
The area of other inshore waters where creeling is currently restricted is 3001 square kilometres. This is approximately 5.7% of the inshore area outwith the MPA network.
(e) The area of Marine Protected Areas where all commercial fishing is currently restricted is 60 square kilometres. This is less than 1% of waters in the inshore MPA network. The presumption for MPAs is that their use will be sustainable use, therefore fishing gears prohibited in MPAs is based on their potential impact on the protected features of the site, usually allowing some fishing to continue.
The area of other inshore waters where all commercial fishing is currently restricted is 6 square kilometres. This is less than 1% of the inshore area outwith the MPA network.