Current SCFF research projects 

One of the biggest impacts of creel fishing can be the entanglement of marine animals. Evidence has shown that floating ropes between creels poses the greatest risk. 

Working with the Scottish Entanglement Alliance on a number of projects funded by the Nature Restoration Fund, SCFF has trialled sinking (negatively buoyant) rope, providing free rope to fishermen around Scotland and providing training to minimise entanglement risk. 

Research (Thurstan & Roberts, 2010) has shown a collapse in the landings of fish from the Firth of Clyde. In addition, a study (Adao, 2025) has shown that juvenile cod caught as bycatch in the Nephrops trawl creates a significant level of mortality. 

With funding from the Highlands and Islands Environment Foundation (HIEF), SCFF has commissioned an analysis on the benthic impacts of trawl and creel fishery management options in the Firth of Clyde.