Question reference: S6W-17336
- Date lodged: 20 April 2023
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Current status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 4 May 2023
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) percentage and (b) area in km2 of Scotland’s inshore waters have any year-round spatial restrictions on (i) all commercial fishing, (ii) scallop dredging, (iii) nephrops trawling and (iv) creeling.
Answer
(i) The area of Scotland's inshore waters where all commercial fishing is currently restricted is 66 square kilometres or less than 1%.
(ii) The area of Scotland's inshore waters where scallop dredging is currently restricted is 8,068 square kilometres or 9%.
(iii) Nephrops trawling is included in measures restricting trawl, bottom trawl or mobile gear. The numbers presented below reflect this. The area of Scotland's inshore waters where trawling is currently restricted is 8,397 square kilometres or 9%.
(iv) The area of Scotland's inshore waters where creeling is currently restricted is 5,660 square kilometres or 6%.
For the answers above, Scottish inshore waters are classed as up to 12 Nautical Miles.