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Seòmar agus comataidhean

Opportunities and Challenges for Scotland’s Fishing Sector in 2025

  • Submitted by: Beatrice Wishart, Shetland Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats.
  • Date lodged: Wednesday, 29 January 2025
  • Motion reference: S6M-16282
  • Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, 18 February 2025

That the Parliament commends the hard-working fishermen of island and coastal communities, including in the Shetland Islands constituency; understands that, as published in the most recent Marine Economic Statistics in December 2024, fishing contributed £335 million to Scotland’s economy in 2022, including £83.3 million from Shetland; notes the dangerous nature of the open sea and the at-sea dangers of manmade infrastructure, as well as from other fishing vessels conducting dangerous procedures and manoeuvres; further notes concern in the sector about increasing competition for marine space and the calls to establish designated cable corridors as a means of addressing spatial squeeze and promoting co-operation; recognises the cultural and economic significance of fishing to Scotland; highlights fish as what it sees as a sustainable, low-carbon source of protein; understands that the Scottish Government has not held a debate on fisheries since 2022, and notes the belief that action to address spatial squeeze in Scotland's seas is in the long-term interests of the fishing sector as well as the wider Scottish economy.


Supported by: Colin Beattie, Miles Briggs, Alexander Burnett, Foysol Choudhury, Alex Cole-Hamilton, Tim Eagle, Annabelle Ewing, Murdo Fraser, Pam Gosal, Rhoda Grant, Rachael Hamilton, Liam McArthur, Emma Roddick, Douglas Ross, Paul Sweeney, Sue Webber, Annie Wells, Brian Whittle