Draft legislation requiring Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) on scallop dredge and large pelagic vessels in Scottish waters have been introduced in Parliament. Marine Directorate Scotland has stated that the implementation of ‘The Sea Fisheries (Remote Electronic Monitoring and Regulation of Scallop Fishing) (Scotland) Regulations 2024’ will oversee a crucial role in supporting more sustainable fisheries […]
New social research publication from the Scottish Government explores what influences the decision making of Scottish fishers. It presents findings from twelve interviews with fishers. The main findings are focused on the social, economic, governance, and environmental drivers in fishers’ decision making. The report titled “What factors influence the strategies and choices of Scottish fishers? […]
Action and investment are needed to reduce the risk of flood and drought and protect water supplies from the impacts of climate change across Scotland. A new plan published by Scottish Water outlines the efforts it will take to make services and infrastructure more resilient to extreme weather. Over the past decade, the public utility […]
The Scottish marine and coastal restoration funding initiative Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund (SMEEF) is to receive more than £2m of additional funding to protect and restore Scottish seagrass meadows. The donation comes from a new partnership between SMEEF and Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) Distribution and is believed to be the largest-ever single […]
The Scottish Government has an announced that an area of the Firth of Clyde will again be closed to most types of fishing activity in spring 2024 and 2025 to protect spawning cod. The closure has been in place each year since 2002 during the cod spawning season. While there has been variation, the closures […]
A blog by Alex Plant, Scottish Water Chief Executive Officer The amount customers pay to keep Scotland’s water cycle flowing is increasing. It’s going up because the climate we rely on for the water needs of our nation is affecting every aspect of our services, and we must do more to maintain and replace our […]
Fishing for sandeel is to be banned in Scottish waters ahead of the 2024 fishery season, subject to Parliamentary approval. Sandeel support the long term sustainability and resilience of the marine ecosystem and are an important food source for many species, including marine mammals, seabirds and predatory fish. Commercial fishing for sandeel is currently carried […]
Young Sea Changers Scotland, a new charity dedicated to training the next generation of marine advocates, launches across Scotland this month. Young Sea Changers Scotland (YSCS) was set up to address a lack of young people participating in formal discussions and decision-making processes affecting how our seas are managed for the future. In a 2018 […]