Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government has no current plans to establish a pilot network of static-gear reserves in the Firth of Clyde Nephrops Functional Unit, including reserves with agreed environmental, fisheries, employment and community objectives and independent monitoring.

The Scottish Government supports the application of the 3Rs principles through ongoing engagement with stakeholders, including researchers, academic institutions and organisations working to advance alternatives to animal use.

Through this engagement, we encourage the development and uptake of scientifically valid approaches that replace, reduce and refine the use of animals in research and testing.

The Scottish Government has not undertaken a Scotland-wide assessment of this kind. However, as part of the Scottish Government’s consultation on Fisheries management measures for inshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and proposed Priority Marine Feature (PMF) management areas, displacement has been assessed.

For the Socio-Economic Impact Assessment (SEIA), a displacement test was undertaken for each MPA and regionally for the proposed PMF management areas. This considered the scale and value of fishing activity affected, the availability of alternative fishing grounds, vessel and gear characteristics, stakeholder evidence on the likely destination of displaced effort, and whether displaced activity could be accommodated elsewhere without significant environmental, economic or social impacts. The assessment considered a range of outcomes, including circumstances where displaced fishing effort could move to alternative fishing grounds and continue operating, and circumstances where it could not.

In parallel, the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) assessed the environmental implications of displacement through a dedicated impact pathway examining the potential adverse effects arising from the displacement of fishing activity and the consequent intensification of activity in locations where fishing already occurs. The SEA considered four pathways:

• potential benefits to habitats and species within protected sites;
• potential spill-over benefits beyond site boundaries;
• potential adverse effects resulting from the displacement of fishing activity and the likely intensification of activity elsewhere; and
• potential adverse effects from increased fishing effort by other gear types not restricted by the measures.

The SEA concluded that, for the majority of sites and areas assessed, adverse environmental effects from displacement were assessed as none or negligible and that, overall, the proposed measures were expected to result in a beneficial effect on the Scottish marine environment.

The SEIA and SEA will be published as part of the consultation documentation.

The latest assessment of Good Environmental Status in UK waters was published in 2026 in UK Marine Strategy Part One: Updated Assessment and Good Environmental Status. This assessment is published by the UK Government, working with the devolved authorities including the Scottish Government. The assessment concluded that Good Environmental Status for seafloor integrity had not yet been achieved across UK waters.

A copy of that assessment can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/marine-strategy-part-one-update

Environmental Standards Scotland's (ESS) report published on 23 June 2026, Protecting Scotland's seafloor: an assessment of Scottish Ministers' implementation of the Marine Strategy Regulations 2010, contains ESS’ findings and recommendations relating to the Scottish Ministers’ implementation of those Regulations, including regarding implementation of measures, monitoring, and governance.

The Scottish Government is carefully considering the ESS report and will work constructively with ESS to seek to agree an appropriate action plan within the timescale suggested in the report. The Scottish Government's position on the report's findings and recommendations will be set out through that engagement and in its formal response.

The Scottish Government is not currently considering a proposal to establish a network of static-gear reserves covering at least 30% of Scotland's inshore waters.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-02777 on 15 September. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-02313 on 24 August 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

The Scottish Government recognises that proposed fisheries management measures for inshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Priority Marine Features (PMFs) may have impacts on some fishers, businesses and coastal communities. As a result, the Marine Directorate is undertaking a mitigation programme to identify and consider appropriate support for those significantly affected.

No final decisions have yet been taken on the scope, funding or delivery of any mitigation package. However, the interim findings that the Scottish Government is exploring are a range of measures intended to support long-term adaptation, resilience and community sustainability, rather than relying primarily on short-term compensation payments.

In relation to:

(a) adaptation, the mitigation programme is considering targeted business resilience and advisory support, skills development, workforce initiatives, support for new entrants, diversification and innovation opportunities where appropriate, enhanced stakeholder engagement, and place-based support for communities experiencing the greatest impacts. The programme is also considering community-led initiatives and wider support to help fishers and communities adapt to changing circumstances.

(b) gear conversion and diversification, the Scottish Government is continuing to engage with industry representatives, fishers and coastal communities to understand what support may be most effective. Stakeholders have highlighted that diversification opportunities can be limited and location-specific, and the mitigation programme is seeking to identify barriers that may have reduced the effectiveness or uptake of previous diversification initiatives and explore how these might be addressed.

(c) exit from the fishing industry, stakeholders indicated a preference for measures that maintain viable fishing opportunities, strengthen business resilience and support long-term adaptation rather than compensation or measures focused on industry exit. The Scottish Government will continue discussions with affected stakeholders to understand whether there is support for measures such as vessel decommissioning or exit schemes, alongside wider measures focused on maintaining viable fisheries, supporting business resilience and helping communities adapt to change.

The Scottish Government will continue to engage with stakeholders, assess evidence and consider consultation responses before making decisions on any future mitigation measures.

The Scottish Government is carefully considering the findings and recommendations of Environmental Standards Scotland (ESS) contained in its report Protecting Scotland’s Seafloor: an assessment of Scottish Ministers’ implementation of the Marine Strategy Regulations 2010, and will work constructively with ESS to seek to agree an appropriate action plan within the timescale suggested in the report.

The Scottish Government will set out its position on the report's findings and recommendations through that engagement and in its formal response, updating the Scottish Parliament as appropriate in this respect.

Environmental Standards Scotland's (ESS) report published on 23 June 2026, Protecting Scotland's seafloor: an assessment of Scottish Ministers' implementation of the Marine Strategy Regulations 2010, contains ESS’ findings and recommendations relating to the Scottish Ministers’ implementation of those Regulations, including regarding the implementation of measures.

The Scottish Government is carefully considering the ESS report and will work constructively with ESS to seek to agree an appropriate action plan within the timescale suggested in the report. The Scottish Government's position on the report's findings and recommendations will be set out through that engagement and in its formal response.

The Scottish Government has not undertaken a specific assessment of the environmental, economic, or social case for establishing a strategically designed network covering at least 30% of Scotland's inshore waters within which bottom-towed fishing is excluded and regulated static-gear fishing is permitted.

The Scottish Government is, however, consulting on proposed fisheries management measures for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) where restrictions are considered necessary to support site conservation objectives, as well as proposals to protect the 11 Priority Marine Features that are most sensitive to bottom-contact mobile fishing gear. The development of these proposals has been informed by extensive stakeholder engagement and assessments of relevant environmental, social, and economic considerations.