Islands minister seeking views from fishing communities ahead of marine protection plans

Scotland’s marine and islands minister has been gauging opinion among fishing communities about the future protection of Scottish coastal waters.

Ahead of a formal consultation exercise, Jim Fairlie is taking soundings from industry leaders in Shetland and the Western Isles.

The issue prompted a petition earlier this year in which more than 16,500 people called for at least 30% of the country’s inshore waters to be protected from dredging and seabed trawling amid concerns such practices can seriously impact marine life.

It urged the Scottish Government to “stop delaying and start protecting” Scotland’s coast from damaging fishing practices.

Fairlie acknowledged that fishing communities have shaped coastal life for generations.

He told STV News: “I know that changes to how we manage our seas can feel unsettling for those whose livelihoods depend on them. I want to be upfront about that and about why we’re taking the approach we are.”

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As a shared resource, he said proper protection meant looking after fish stocks, habitats and the long-term future of industries that rely on healthy marine environments.

“That’s why 37% of Scotland’s seas are now designated as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs),” he said, “with fisheries management measures already in place across a significant share of that network.”

New fisheries management measures came into force last autumn, resulting in 93.5% of Scotland’s offshore MPA network being closed to bottom trawling. And 13% of inshore MPAs are now closed to nephrops (lobster) trawling and scallop dredging.

Fairlie described the moves as “meaningful” but that he recognised they do not come without an impact on communities that fish those waters.

“That’s precisely why we’re taking care over what comes next,” he said. “In the coming weeks, we will consult on further protections for inshore MPAs and priority marine features – habitats of high conservation importance – a project that has been developed with extensive input from the fishing sector for nearly a decade.”

He said that given the scale and complexity of the work, covering more than 160 sites, the consultation would be extended to 16 weeks to ensure “the evidence is robust, the proposals clear and fishing communities have a fair and full opportunity to have their say.”

Among organisations the minister is meeting are the Shetland Fishermen’s Association, Shetland Shellfish Management Organisation, Western Isles Fishing Association and representatives from shellfish companies.

He will also meet with organisations “concerned about the current status of the marine environment and pace of action to understand the views of all stakeholders”.