Marine

  • “Disarray” for others without Scotland in the EU

    5th March 2014 by

    Scotland pivotal to EU & non-EU countries fisheries framework. Key aspects of the EU’s delicately balanced and carefully negotiated international fisheries framework would be thrown into “disarray” without an independent Scotland as an EU member, Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead said today. Speaking ahead of crucial international fishing talks being held in Edinburgh this week, Mr...

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  • Fishing hardship fund

    27th February 2014 by

    Funding grants for Scottish fishermen. A fishing hardship fund has awarded £1.9 million to white fish and prawn fishermen from across Scotland. The cash boost was announced last summer by the Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead. The Scottish Government took this initiative in response to very poor catches of prawns in the North Sea last year...

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  • Marine Analytical Unit weekly update – 22 January 2014

    23rd January 2014 by

    This week’s update from the Marine Analytical Unit has been published, featuring a guest article reporting on the ‘Social Impacts of Marine Activities’ Read the full update Related Links All previous Marine Analytical Unit updates

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  • Marine Analytical Unit weekly update – 15 January 2014

    16th January 2014 by

    This week’s update from the Marine Analytical Unit has been published, featuring a guest article reporting on the ‘Implications of a Discard Ban in Multispecies Quota Fisheries’ Read the full update Related Links All previous Marine Analytical Unit updates

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  • Deep sea secrets uncovered

    30th December 2013 by

    Four secretive sea creatures previously unknown to science have been discovered in deep ocean waters hundreds of miles off the north west coast of Scotland. Marine Scotland trawl surveys off the continental shelf in the north Atlantic have uncovered a brand new species of large sea snail, two kinds of clams and a marine worm....

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  • Views sought on fishing controls

    30th December 2013 by

    Streamlining and simplifying licensing arrangements for fishing vessels in Scotland are two of the issues being looked at in a new consultation. It complements the recent commitment, through Marine Scotland’s ‘Aid to Adapt Action Plan’, to reduce costs and give greater flexibility to licence holders by making changes to the licensing system. The proposals within...

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  • No cuts in days at sea for Scottish fishermen

    19th December 2013 by

    Scottish fishermen have retained their current days at sea allocation for 2014 for all sea areas following the crucial end of year fisheries negotiations in Brussels. Earlier this week the Scottish Fisheries Secretary, Richard Lochhead outlined this issue as his main priority before he left for the talks. On the west coast of Scotland there...

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  • Consultation on Fishing Vessel Licensing launched

    16th December 2013 by

    In 2009, the Scottish Licensing Review Working Group (SLRWG), a joint industry/Marine Scotland group, was established. The membership was set up to represent each catching sector rather than geographical locations.  The remit of the group was to carry out a full review of the licensing arrangements in Scotland, with a view to informing future policy...

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  • Action on fishing gear conflict

    18th November 2013 by

    A Scottish Government taskforce is being established to tackle deliberate acts of gear vandalism at sea and help resolve conflicts within the fishing industry. Often the same sea area is shared between local and nomadic fishing operators as well as between trawlers and creelers in different parts of the country. The Scottish Government is keen...

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  • Cod stock recovering

    18th October 2013 by

    Speaking immediately after the EU Fisheries Council in Luxembourg Scotland’s Fisheries Minister Richard Lochhead said: “The good news out of today’s Council is that there is general consensus among Ministers, and indeed acknowledged by the Commissioner herself, that cod stocks are recovering. “We now await further scientific advice which is due out very soon, which...

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