Scotland’s Future Catching Policy: selectivity proposals 2026

What is the large mesh demersal fleet segment?

• This fleet segment comprises of approximately 96 fishing vessels in Scottish waters who use large mesh demersal trawls as their primary method of fishing*. Of this, 66 are Scottish registered vessels, 11 are UK registered and 19 are non-UK vessels.
• These vessels operate all over Scotland, mainly outside the 12 nautical mile line.
• These vessels use demersal bottom trawls to catch whitefish (demersal) species and have a codend mesh size of 120mm or over (hence “large mesh”).

*More vessels may use this method, but not as their primary gear

What measures do we have in place now?

• A requirement for demersal bottom trawls to have a minimum of 120mm mesh size in the codend. These are almost universally rigged in a diamond mesh format.
• An additional 120mm square mesh panel in the top of the extension piece if fishing east of the Cod Recovery Line in ICES Via (French line)What needs to change?
• The 120mm  mesh size in the codend is the legal minimum standard for whitefish targeting vessels. However, we have identified that square mesh codends may offer improved selectivity for small fish, given that meshes stay more open in comparison with diamond mesh codends. Feedback from fishers has suggested they would like the option to use square mesh codends, however, some legislative barriers to selectivity exist which can prevent them from considering a switch to square mesh codends i.e. the 120mm mesh stipulation outlined above in a square mesh format would result in the loss of too much marketable fish.
• Evidence shows, and trials are currently ongoing to prove, that a 100mm square mesh codend used in demersal trawls can be as selective as a 120mm diamond mesh codend, and maybe more so. However current legislation dictates a minimum of 120mm mesh size in the codend.

What are we proposing will change?

• Subject to the conclusion of successful gear trials, we propose to amend  current requirements to allow for use of square mesh in codends below the current legal limit of 120mm for whitefish fishing.
• We propose to allow codends with square mesh of a minimum of 100mm.
• Diamond meshes would still need to be above this limit, but we would add a stipulation for a smaller allowed mesh if using the square configuration.

Proposed outcome

• To keep the minimum requirement for diamond mesh at 120mm but allow for use of square mesh codends at smaller mimimum mesh size e.g. 100mm. This will result in the potential wider spread use of square mesh codends, with potential to result in less retention of small fish.