Chamber and committees

Last year, extensive engagement was held with a wide range of stakeholders to discuss key principles and matters which would inform the development of a Future Fisheries Management Strategy. We received 120 written responses to the discussion paper, and ran a series of successful events across Scotland in order to properly engage stakeholders in the process.

It had been the intention to publish the outcomes of those discussions and the Scottish Government’s response last autumn.

Due to the uncertainties relating to Brexit and the need for Scottish Government officials to engage fully with those processes, including the UK Fisheries bill. and then the COVID-19 pandemic impacting on available resource in Marine Scotland which was diverted to supporting the fishing and seafood industry through the crisis, this timetable was unavoidably delayed.

However, today I am able to publish that Outcome report and also the Scottish Government’s response. Both are available on the Scottish Government website at:

• Future Fisheries Management - Scottish Government response to stakeholder input into the national discussion paper – https://www.gov.scot/ISBN/978-1-80004-121-9
• Future Fisheries Management Discussion Paper - Outcome Report – https://www.gov.scot/ISBN/978-1-80004-120-2

The response also sets out our broad intent and priorities for future policy development. The next step will be to publish a Future Fisheries Management Strategy later this year, informed by the views and information received during last year’s discussions.

Our vision for the Strategy is to establish world leading, sustainable fisheries management in Scotland, with inclusive economic growth at its heart which benefits coastal communities.

I want to thank all those who responded to the discussion paper and would like to encourage all those with an interest in Scotland’s fisheries to continue to engage with us in delivering our vision.