Chamber and committees

Applications for the razor clam electrofishing trial were assessed by a cross-Departmental panel, which involved Marine Scotland, the Health and Safety Executive and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. Applications were scored against published criteria that were concerned with vessel safety, economic impact, the safety of diving operations and experience in scientific research.

The criteria and scoring system were explained in the application form for the trial, which may be viewed here: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/marine/Sea-Fisheries/management/razors/trialapp . The scoring system is described at Annex C of the form.

The scoring system allowed for a maximum of 36 points. Vessels that achieved a score of 16 or more have in general been offered a place on the trial, except in cases where there were considered to exist in relation to particular vessels contemporary and substantial concerns connected to safety. A maximum of 28 vessels will take part in the trial, subject to successful vessel inspection. This total number is similar to the number of vessels that have participated in this fishery in the recent past, and is considered a reasonable upper limit.

Vessels have been allocated to trial areas according to the preferences stated in their application form. The Scottish Government will keep under review the distribution of vessels across trial areas, and the total number of vessels in the trial.

With respect to the monitoring of vessels participating in the trial, I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-15298 on 26 April 2018. In relation to any razor fishing that vessels not authorised within the terms of the trial, Marine Scotland Compliance will take appropriate steps to detect and address such activity. In this context it is relevant that the Razor Clams (Prohibition on Fishing and Landing) (Scotland) Order 2017 prohibits not only the fishing for but also the landing of razor clams.

The use of Registered Buyers and Sellers legislation will also allow compliance to be monitored post landing. Risk assessments will be regularly reviewed and acted upon including visits to buyers and sellers of razor clams.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

There are no plans at present to publish these details.

Further to consultation with fishermen and other interested parties the Scottish Government considered that it was possible, and potentially more informative, to undertake a trial over a larger number of clearly defined areas than was initially anticipated in the consultation response document of April 2017. It is considered that a trial over a larger number of areas has the potential to involve significantly greater economic benefits than a more limited trial, in the light of recent recorded landing figures and views expressed about the abundance of razor clams in a number of areas around the coast. In addition it is considered that it is possible to monitor effectively activity over the areas selected for the trial, in light of the conditions attached to vessel derogations and having regard to the use of electronic monitoring equipment that will be installed on-board fishing vessels. The Scottish Government will keep the trial under review and reserves the right to close areas to further fishing at any time during the trial period. The legal basis of the trial is Article 43 of EC Regulation 850/98.

It is not correct to state that fishing for razor clams undertaken prior to 1 February 2018 was “unlicensed”. UK fishing vessels landing razor clams prior to this date did so further to the authority granted them under their sea fisheries licence and, in the case of Scottish fishing vessels, a bespoke razor fish licence.

An annual total allowable catch has not been set for the razor clam electrofishing trial. Vessels have initially been set a daily catch limit (450 kilogrammes) and a limit on days at sea in a 12 month period (110 days) has also been introduced. Marine Scotland is monitoring catch uptake and reserves the right to adjust the conditions set during the trial.

These assessments will be completed and published as soon as possible. No fishing under the trial is authorised in these areas at present. The two areas in question are the Sound of Barra and Luce Bay in the Solway Firth.

Fishing vessels participating in the trial are required to gather information specified by Marine Scotland. The gathering of information may require the installation of electronic equipment, including cameras. A protocol for the gathering of information to further monitor the fishery, local catch rates and the electrofishing method is being developed and will be introduced into the derogation. Vessels will be required to provide information about catches, in terms of location and rates of catch, which will assist in building an evidence base about razor clam stocks in the trial areas. The Government will keep under review, as the trial progresses, rates of catches from the different areas in the trial. The Government reserves the right, in particular, to close further areas to fishing or introduce specific conditions for different trial areas.

Separate annual total allowable catches have not been set. The Scottish Government will keep the trial under review and reserves the right to close areas to further fishing or introduce specific conditions for particular trial areas.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-15299 on 26 April 2018. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx .

Derogations issued to authorise vessels to take part in the trial require vessels to deploy only specified electrical equipment, and said equipment must be inspected prior to the commencement of fishing operations. Arrangements are being made to allow for the continuing monitoring of the use of equipment while vessels are at sea. The future participation in the trial of any participant not deploying the specified electrical equipment will be reviewed.