18 Feb 2025

The Prime Minister must avoid gambling with the future of Scottish fishing businesses by using the industry as a bargaining chip in negotiations to improve relations with the EU. That’s the message delivered to Sir Keir Starmer in a letter from the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation prior to talks on future trading arrangements between UK and […]

11 Feb 2025

 The Scottish Government’s call for evidence on Inshore Fisheries Management Improvement (IFMI), scheduled for discussion on 5 February, was criticised by a coalition of eNGO’s as reversing progress toward achieving sustainable inshore fisheries management. The IFMI programme was developed in 2024 in response to concerns over crab and lobster stock availability.     In an […]

11 Feb 2025

The Future Economic Potential of Tidal Stream and Wave Energy in Scotland report reveals the size of the potential economic prize for Scotland if the correct steps are taken to ensure it remains the world-leading destination for developing marine energy.     The report – published by the University of Edinburgh (UoE) and commissioned by […]

04 Feb 2025

The Scottish Government has published a new report presenting an analysis of responses to the consultation on proposed fisheries management measures within Scottish Offshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The consultation took place between August and October 2024, seeking stakeholder input on the implementation of management measures across 20 MPAs and amending the boundary of the […]

21 Jan 2025

Back in early 2024 the UK and Scottish Governments introduced a ban on sandeel fishing in Scottish waters and English waters of the North Sea in a move conservationists hailed as critical for saving the UK’s globally important seabird colonies. Now a challenge from the EU on the ban is set to be heard in […]

21 Jan 2025

The Scottish government has been criticised for its “slow progress” on regulating the salmon farming industry by a parliamentary inquiry held by the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee. The report reveals that MSPs “seriously considered” calling for a moratorium on new farms and expansion of existing sites due to concerns over persistently high salmon mortality rates but […]

30 Dec 2024

Scottish fishing chiefs have warned their industry faces a twin threat to its future in 2025. Offshore wind farms in the North Sea and the prime minister’s ambitions to “reset” relations between the UK and European Union are major dangers for the sector, they say. Scotland’s fishing sector is at risk of being “crushed” unless […]

17 Dec 2024

Record funding of £150 million capital investment from the Scottish Government will support the growth of the offshore wind sector and support thousands of well-paid, green jobs across Scotland over the next decade. Overall strategic investment of up to £500 million over five years is expected to boost private investment in the sector by up […]