Three Proposed Joint UK Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) for Pelagic Stocks

Overview

We are seeking your views on three proposed Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) for pelagic fish stocks.

FMPs are published under the Fisheries Act 2020 and set out how fisheries will be managed to ensure stocks are fished sustainably now and in the future.

The UK fisheries authorities (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Scottish Government, Welsh Government and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland) will prepare and publish 43 Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) by 2028. The Scottish Government is the coordinating authority for 21 FMPs with a delivery date of end of 2026. Of the 21 FMPs, 11 are for demersal fish stocks, two are for Nephrops stocks and a further eight are for pelagic fish stocks.

This consultation covers the remaining three of the eight pelagic FMPs:

  • North Sea horse mackerel FMP
  • North Sea greater silver smelt FMP
  • West of Scotland greater silver smelt

The plans have been developed jointly by UK fisheries authorities, with input from industry, scientists, NGOs and Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies.

We are also seeking views on:

  • the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), which considers environmental impacts
  • the Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA), which considers economic impacts

Supporting documents are available in the ‘Related’ section below the 'Begin consultation' button.

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.

Consultation questions preview

The consultation questions are included here for your reference. Please click 'Begin consultation' at the bottom of this page to proceed.

Question 1: For the North Sea horse mackerel FMP, do you agree with the proposed policies?

Question 2: What are your views on the proposed actions for each policy in the North Sea horse mackerel FMP?

Question 3: For the North Sea greater silver smelt FMP, do you agree with the proposed policies?

Question 4: What are your views on the proposed actions for each policy in the North Sea greater silver smelt FMP?

Question 5: For the West of Scotland greater silver smelt FMP, do you agree with the proposed policies?

Question 6: What are your views on the proposed actions for each policy in the West of Scotland greater silver smelt FMP?

Question 7: Do you have any comments on the specific sections in any of the three proposed FMPs? For example, on the:

  • Stock assessment and MSY section which provides information on available stock assessments, MSY and stock biology for the individual stocks covered by these FMPs.
  • Fisheries management section which outlines proposals to maintain the sustainable management of these fisheries in UK waters for the long-term. It also covers the current technical measures, as well as monitoring, control and enforcement.
  • Environmental considerations section which covers legal duties and requirements relating to the protection of the natural environment arising from legislation. It provides details of the conservation advice developed by the SNCBs which describes the risks arising from pelagic fisheries contained within these three FMPs.
  • Implementation and monitoring section which describes the process for implementation and states that the FMPs will be reviewed and improved over time as more evidence becomes available. The delivery of the policies and actions in the FMPs will be monitored and assessed against a set of indicators to ensure the overarching outcomes and actions are effective in achieving the FMP policies and the requirements of the Act.

Question 8: Do you have any other additional comments on the three proposed pelagic FMPs?

Question 9: Do you have any comments on the partial Business Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA)?

Question 10: Do you have any comments on the assessment of the environmental effects of the three pelagic FMPs which are subject to this consultation, as set out in the environmental report?

Question 11: Do you have any comments on any potential islands impacts arising from the draft FMPs?

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

This is an opportunity for you to help shape and influence the future of pelagic fisheries management policy in the UK and builds upon previous engagement with a wide range of stakeholders across the UK.

Give us your views

Begin consultation

Closes 10 Nov 2026

Opened 29 Sep 2026

Contact

fmps@gov.scot

Interests

  • Main hub
  • Marine and Fisheries