Policy manifesto

Scotland’s inshore fleet — dominated by low-impact creel, line and dive fisheries but also including smaller trawl and dredge vessels — plays a unique social, economic and cultural role. National policy must recognise this sector explicitly, rather than treating it simply as “under-12 m”. 

SCFF calls for: 

• A multi-criteria definition of inshore/small-scale fisheries. 

• Clear policy objectives supporting the inshore fleet across all strategies, FMPs and RIFG processes. 

• Marine planning and conservation measures that safeguard, not displace, low-impact activity. 

Despite being the majority of active vessels, low-impact inshore fishers are often under-represented in decisions that directly affect them. 

SCFF calls for: 

• Guaranteed representation in quota, access, spatial and funding decisions. 

• Minimum consultation standards for any major regulatory or spatial change. 

• Mandatory distributional impact assessments to ensure fairness to small-scale and island communities. 

Scotland lacks sufficient socio-economic and environmental data to manage inshore fisheries effectively. Stock assessments and science remain heavily weighted towards offshore sectors. 

SCFF calls for: 

• Robust socio-economic data for small ports, islands and lower impact fleet segments. 

• Assessments of vulnerability to climate change, spatial squeeze and regulatory shocks. 

• A major uplift in inshore-specific science, including stock assessments, mortality sources, recruitment drivers, ecological pressures, and innovation on bycatch, selectivity, value improvement, ghost gear reduction and gear recycling. 

Low-impact inshore fisheries are central to coastal employment, heritage, biodiversity and Scotland’s wider Blue Economy ambitions. Well-managed, low-impact fisheries help deliver 30x30, the Nature Restoration agenda, and Blue Economy targets — they are part of the solution. 

SCFF calls for: 

• Full interpretation of the Fisheries Act’s social, economic and national benefit objectives to include community resilience and biodiversity contributions. 

• Social, cultural and environmental value to be embedded in access and funding decisions. 

• Ring-fenced funding for inshore fleets, ports and landing sites, and prioritisation of low-impact methods. 

Inshore fleets face disproportionate impacts from closures, renewables expansion, regulation and spatial pressures. 

SCFF calls for: 

• Allocation of opportunities using social, economic and environmental criteria. 

• Protection of inshore waters from intensive high-impact activity. 

• Regulation that is proportionate, phased and supported with transition assistance. 

• Reduced regulatory burden (MCA changes, reporting requirements). 

• Stronger recruitment pathways, apprenticeships and new-entrant support. 

• Facilitation of generational renewal and local training opportunities. 

• Attention to power imbalances across fleet segments. 

• Continued development of regional and localised management plans.

Successful inshore fisheries elsewhere (e.g. Norway, Denmark, Ireland, Canada) show the value of regional management, differentiated access and support for low-impact fleets. 

SCFF calls for: 

• Structured reviews of international approaches and adaptation to Scottish needs. 

• Co-design of Scottish policies with inshore fishers at local and regional scales. 

• Embedding lessons into FMPs, RIFG reform and spatial planning. 

• Stronger collaboration with Scottish, UK and European academic partners and networks to build evidence, share solutions and raise the profile of low-impact, small-scale fishers. 

Creel effort is increasing in several areas, leading to gear conflict, stock pressure and reduced CPUE. 

SCFF calls for: 

• Statutory creel limits tailored regionally based on effort, stock status and local socio-economic conditions. 

• Transparent allocation, fair enforcement and monitoring. 

• Co-management through RIFGs with fishers directly involved in setting limits. 

• Adaptive management based on stock and effort indicators. 

Creel effort is increasing in several areas, leading to gear conflict, stock pressure and reduced CPUE. 

SCFF calls for: 

• Statutory creel limits tailored regionally based on effort, stock status and local socio-economic conditions. 

• Transparent allocation, fair enforcement and monitoring. 

• Co-management through RIFGs with fishers directly involved in setting limits. 

• Adaptive management based on stock and effort indicators. 

Creel effort is increasing in several areas, leading to gear conflict, stock pressure and reduced CPUE. 

SCFF calls for: 

• Statutory creel limits tailored regionally based on effort, stock status and local socio-economic conditions. 

• Transparent allocation, fair enforcement and monitoring. 

• Co-management through RIFGs with fishers directly involved in setting limits. 

• Adaptive management based on stock and effort indicators. 

• Photo credit: Káťa Opuntia