Scotland’s Future Catching Policy: selectivity proposals 2026
Overview
As a result of our technical workshops and further stakeholder engagement and following on from our review of current technical measures, innovations, and best practises, the Scottish Government are proposing a number of changes to technical and management measures across Scottish waters.
The proposed measures for individual fleet segments are outlined in the consultation document and questions about these proposals will appear in the following sections. The proposals aim to support a reduction in unwanted fish catch, a reduction in sensitive species interaction and also to simplify where possible and consolidate conflicting or converging existing regulations. The consultation document and following sections represent the joint work conducted with stakeholders over the last few years – this is by necessity technical and complex.
What do we mean by “technical”?
Throughout this consultation we reference technical workshops, and technical conservation measures, but what do we mean? Technical measures in the context of this consultation, this policy, and wider fisheries management can be more simply defined as “fishing gear requirements”.
As already discussed, fishing gear (e.g. trawls, creels, gill nets) is regulated through a long list of legislation which has been developed, amended and built upon over decades of management. Technical conservation measures are elements of this long list designed to deliver a stock or species sustainability benefit, more commonly known as “selectivity measures” (e.g. square mesh panels which allow small fish to ‘escape’ the fishing net, and acoustic deterrents which can deter marine mammals from approaching a fishing net). When we talk about technical measures, we are referring to the legislation or licence requirements in place that define what type of fishing gear is used and how it must be modified or constructed to meet legal standards e.g. the size of the mesh in a net. These measures are usually dependent on several additional factors such as fishing area, targeted species, vessel size, and vessel power.
For a basic introduction into demersal fishing nets, their component parts and construction, please see Annex A in the consultation document.
For the sake of this consultation document, when we refer to “codend mesh size” assume that this also covers the mesh size of the extension piece of the net, in keeping with current legislation.
Read the consultation paper. The consultation paper contains full background information for this consultation. You may find it useful to read or refer to while responding.
Useful information about responding to this consultation
As you complete your response, each page will provide the option to 'Save and come back later' at the bottom. This means you can save your progress and return to the consultation at any time before it closes. If you don't use this feature and leave the consultation midway through, your response will be lost.
Once you have submitted your response, you can enter your email address to get a pdf copy of your answers sent to you.
On the 'About You' page at the end of this consultation, organisations will have the opportunity to tell us more about their work and/or how their response was informed.
After the consultation has closed there will be a few months delay before any responses are published. This is because we must check any responses to be published abide by our Terms of Use.
All relevant submitted responses will be analysed. This may be carried out by third party organisations who Scottish Government, its executive agencies or non-ministerial offices, contract to do this work. Such data sharing will be governed by appropriate contractual arrangements to keep your data secure.
An analysis report will usually be published some months after the consultation has closed. This report will summarise the findings based on all responses submitted. It will be published on the Scottish Government website and you may be notified about it if you choose to share your email address with us.
You can also join our consultation mailing list where we regularly list newly published analysis reports (as well as new consultations).
Why your views matter
We are seeking a wide variety of stakeholder views on the proposals we are setting out.
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Interests
- Economy
- Environment and Climate Change
- Main hub
- Marine and Fisheries
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