Chamber and committees

Following international negotiations the UK, with relevant Coastal states, agreed on 16 December to significant 2026 quota reductions for key pelagic species (a 48% reduction in the North East Atlantic mackerel Total Allowable Catch (TAC) and a 22% reduction for herring).

Parliament was informed on 18 December of emergency measures for 2026, via a revision of economic link fishing licence conditions. This was the earliest opportunity to do so prior to the festive recess.

The same day, a letter was sent to the Convener of the Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee.

Related statutory impact assessments are available:

https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806436347 - Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA)

https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806436330 - Island Communities Impact Assessment (ICIA)

https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806436323 - Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA)

https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806436316 - Consultation Outcome Document

The Scottish Government has long committed to increasing the proportion of Scotland's key fish stocks landed into Scotland to strengthen economic benefits for coastal communities and safeguard processing capacity. As a result of processor calls (following the publication of pelagic TAC advice for 2026) for support in light of exceptional quota cuts for mackerel and herring in 2026, the Scottish Government engaged in a process to evaluate if action was in the public interest.

Marine Directorate held targeted discussions with processors, individual catching businesses, port authorities and representative bodies and carried out analysis of landings and socio-economic evidence to understand impacts and options. A series of statutory impact assessments were produced, including a Business Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA), which can be found here:

https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806436347 - BRIA

https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806436330 - Island Communities Impact Assessment (ICIA)

https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806436323 - Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA)

https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806436316 - Consultation Outcome Document

The (BRIA) sets out that Scottish Government intervention is being introduced to increase the proportion of mackerel and herring landed into Scotland during 2026. Without action, landings into Scotland will decrease significantly (a drop of around 60% for mackerel compared to 2024 landings is estimated), undermining local economies, reducing employment, increasing market volatility, and weakening investment in processing and port infrastructure.

The significant cuts in quota will have an impact across the supply chain, including the 21 vessel pelagic trawl fleet. Changes to economic link conditions will have no direct impact on the smaller (handline) pelagic vessels, with vessels under 10 metres in length exempt from these provisions.

This intervention is designed to be proportionate, targeted, and consistent with the Scottish Government’s Better Regulation principles. The policy will be kept under review and engagement maintained with pelagic industry sectors.

The unprecedented scale of the ICES-recommended pelagic TAC reductions for 2026, means there will be impacts across the pelagic supply chain.

Both processing and catching sector views and evidence have been analysed and wider market conditions have also been considered.

In considering cumulative impacts of TAC cuts and increased landing targets, Marine Directorate held focused discussions with processors, individual catching businesses, port authorities and representative bodies and carried out analysis of landings and socio-economic evidence to fully understand impacts and options. A series of statutory impact assessments, including a Business Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) were produced. All related impact assessments are available online:

https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806436347 - BRIA

https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806436330 - Island Communities Assessment (ICIA)

https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806436323 - Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA)

https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806436316 - Consultation Outcome Document

The Scottish Government have made no payments to the Global Disinformation Index (either as a grant or for goods or services) and no contracts have been awarded to this organisation.

It is noted that we do not hold spend data for our electronic Purchasing Card (ePC) – which is used for the purchase of low-value goods and services – for the period 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2019.

A link to the ePC policy is provided below for information:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-government-electronic-purchasing-card-epc-policy-2/

The Scottish Government recognises the value of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) water scarcity reporting to individuals and businesses. Weekly reports from May to September deliver timely information during the highest-risk period.

SEPA also collect data throughout the year and produce seasonal reports in autumn and winter which summarise rainfall patterns and water resource conditions providing early insight and preparation ahead of the spring and summer. SEPA’s autumn water situation report 2025 report was published in December 2025 and is publicly available on SEPA’s website. A winter situation report will follow in March 2026.

No meeting have been held between Scottish Ministers and Offshore Solutions Group Limited in the time period specified.

Due to the complexity of this issue, NatureScot does not hold annual data on the instances of predation of livestock by white-tailed eagles. Confirming the number of white-tailed eagle predation instances on individual holdings is challenging, especially in extensive sheep systems, where often lambs go missing without trace or there is very little carcass material left for analysis.

NatureScot work closely with farmers and crofters to better understand white-tailed eagle interactions with livestock on individual holdings.

This work includes analysis of flock performance data, white-tailed eagle prey remains analysis, installation of cameras on white-tailed eagle nests and funding for measures such as enhanced shepherding, which supports additional shepherds on extensive areas to collect data on a range of variables. In 2025, the Sea Eagle Management Scheme supported 36 shepherds across 19 holdings in this work. A report of this collaborative work will be available in due course.

As part of the reporting requirements of the Sea Eagle Management Scheme, participating holdings are required to submit annual Flock Management Log returns which collect data on flock performance in individual years and provide an opportunity for farmers and crofters to provide feedback on the efficacy of the support they have received and detail any ongoing challenges with predation.

Following the launch of Enhanced Measures support in 2020, NatureScot expanded this exercise and sought additional feedback from those in receipt of this support level, to inform stakeholder discussions and measure efficacy.

NatureScot staff are also in regular contact with participating holdings in the Scheme on the efficacy of support in mitigating any ongoing predation challenges.

Further information can be found at the following links: https://www.nature.scot/doc/sea-eagle-management-scheme-sems-review-scheme-delivery-2020-2023

https://www.nature.scot/doc/sea-eagle-management-scheme-2024-report-stakeholders.

CalMac Masters are permitted to depart ahead of the advertised departure time if (a) all the necessary safety checks and procedures are complete, and (b) all passengers (who have checked in within the advertised check-in times) are onboard.

The total funding support, through NatureScot Management Agreements, awarded to participating holdings in the Sea Eagle Management Scheme in each year since 2021 are as follows: