Marine
Sandeel fishing to be banned in Scottish waters
January 31, 2024 by Marine Directorate Communications 5 Comments | Category Consultation, Fisheries, Marine ecosystem, Marine Environment
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 out entirely by European vessels. In recognition of the importance of the species to marine biodiversity, no fishing quota has been allocated to UK vessels since 2021.
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands Mairi Gougeon said:
“Sandeel are a vital part of our marine ecosystem and a critical component of the food chain in the North Atlantic.
“It is critical that we manage our marine environment in a such a way as to ensure its sustainable use, protecting biodiversity and ensuring healthy functioning ecosystems.
“Prohibiting all vessels from fishing for sandeel in Scottish waters will help provide long term sustainability and benefits not just for sandeel but also for seabirds, marine mammals and other fish species.
“This decision reflects overwhelming support for our proposals, the scientific evidence base and our longstanding position not to support fishing for sandeel as set out in Scotland’s Future Fisheries Management Strategy.”
The Scottish Government consulted on proposals to close fishing for sandeel in Scottish waters in 2023, with 97% of respondents indicating support for the preferred option.
The UK Government has today also indicated its intention to close Area 4 of the North Sea in English waters for sandeel fishing.
Background
The SEA FISHING (PROHIBITION ON FISHING FOR SANDEEL) ORDER 2024 will be laid before Parliament on 5 February.
The Order is subject to a negative procedure and if approved and made, will come into force on 26 March 2024
Future Fisheries Management Strategy
Tags: fisheries, fishery season, fishing, marine ecosystem, marine environment, North Atlantic food chain, sandeel fishing, seabirds
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Great news. Thank goodness!
If only bottom trawling could go the same way.
Long before time as this fishery was was only used for pig feed or manure depriving the feed chain of fish and mammals that rely on it to survive should have been banned before it even started full stop
Atlast it is not just the sand eel they catch what about salmon and seatrout smolts in the catch
Definitely a great decision before it’s too late to reverse the damage being done to the marine environment, a step in the right direction, many more to be taken.
This is the most wonderful news and it is long overdue.This will help save our salmon& sea trout smolts grilse and seabirds to make a comeback.Why have we allowed foreign boats to take sandeels for so long is baffling.