Firth of Clyde cod spawning closure for 2022/23

Since 2001, a specific area in the Firth of Clyde has been closed to fishing each year between 14 February and 30 April, in order to protect spawning cod. The Scottish Government has responsibility for the closure via a Scottish Statutory Instrument (SSI). Exemptions have previously been provided for Norway lobster trawlers, creels and scallop dredgers due to the low amounts of cod that they catch.

We consulted to seek your views on continuing the closure in 2022 and 2023.

We received a wide array of responses ranging from continuing the status quo, to banning all fishing and varying levels of protection in between. Where consent has been given to publish the response these can be viewed here.

Measures to protect spawning cod in the Firth of Clyde will continue in 2022 and 2023. The Scottish Government has decided to increase the benefits of the closure by making it more targeted and focused. The overall size of the closure compared to previous years has been reduced by 28%*, while providing increased protection to spawning cod by prohibiting all fishing activity in the closed areas.

An SSI has now been laid in Parliament and can be viewed here.

This change will have a short-term impact on local fishers given that the full closure of the fishery is for 11 weeks, but by taking action now, we hope to see the stock replenish which will ultimately be beneficial for fishing interests.

Further information on the decision can be found in the following blog and webpage.

The closure will come into effect on 14^th February in both 2022 and 2023.

Whilst creels are included in the closure, provided that all creels are left open and unbaited and are not otherwise used for any fishing activity, they may be left in situ on the seabed during the period of the closure. Alternatively they may be lifted and relocated for the duration of the closure.

We are please to advice that the report referenced within the consultation document has now been published by The Scottish Oceans Institute (University of St Andrews) on behalf of the Clyde Fishermen’s Association after being shared with Marine Scotland. They can be accessed at the following link https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/handle/10023/23378. The publication of these reports was delayed as the result of a number of often unexpected pressing external events which took up Marine Scotland officials’ time. These included dealing with the aftermath of Brexit and the ongoing challenges to the fishing industry as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Marine Scotland acknowledges that the reports should not have been referred to in the Firth of Clyde cod closure consultation document; however this was done in good faith and the belief that they were due for imminent release.

Due to the delayed publication of the reports, there have been a number of misconceptions about the contents and purpose of the reports. The surveys were carried out in an exploratory spirit to look at gathering baseline data. The report’s authors are clear throughout that they did not intend the surveys to be used as the basis for advice, for the location of spawning cod or anything else, but rather as part of the development of a consistent and reliable baseline survey method for Clyde demersal fish. These reports contain quite limited information which would not have altered the overall policy decision. It is hoped that work in the Firth of Clyde will progress in future in order to continue to develop a baseline.

*or 35% of the Article 3(a) area of the previous SSI