In early 2016 Scottish Government established fisheries restrictions in Scottish Marine Protected Areas to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems. The ‘mobile’ fishing sector (i.e. the part of the fishing industry most likely to be affected by these MPA) raised many concerns about the negative impact the restrictions could have on coastal communities. This report looks at the financial impact.
Some of the conclusions are as follows:
o A year has now passed and this analysis has been undertaken to assess what impacts the restrictions have had on landings of scallops and Nephrops (the two species most targeted by inshore fisheries) at several key Scottish ports.
o Assessment shows that landed weight and value have not been impacted at the majority of Scottish ports, with the exception of Kyle of Lochalsh and Ullapool which saw fewer and less regular scallop landings (though these changes may not be caused by the MPA measures).
o Scallop landings increased significantly at Tarbert, and the value of scallop landings increased at West Loch Tarbert, Campbeltown, Kirkcudbright, Isle of Whitehorn, Mallaig and Stornoway. Value of Nephrops landings also increased at Mallaig, West Loch Tarbert, Tarbert and Kyle of Lochalsh.
o In general, MPAs have not caused drastic differences in Nephrops and scallop landings at key Scottish ports.
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