Creating a stronger and more sustainable Scottish creel industry

Established in 2012 by a coalition of inshore fishing organisations, the Scottish Creel Fishermen’s Federation (SCFF) is the national trade association representing Scotland’s creel, line, and dive sectors. Our mission is to unite the voices of small-scale inshore fishermen, and to advocate for their interests and future at a national level.

SCFF advocates for better inshore spatial management to better balance ecological, economic and social goals. To achieve this SCFF is lobbying for:

• The establishment of creel limits to manage fishing effort and reduce overfishing, gear conflict, and pressure on sensitive marine environments, and to improve the resilience of our nearshore fishing grounds. 

• The adoption of regional fisheries management structures to develop higher-resolution, inclusive regional co-managed approaches in Scotland’s inshore waters.

• Preferential access to fishing grounds for low-impact fisheries

• Promoting an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management

• Reduction in bycatch and entanglement of sensitive species

We lead gear trials, conduct and publish scientific research, respond to government consultations, and represent our sector on a range of government and industry working groups.