Further assessment will take place before wrasse fishing reopens

Further checks will be carried out before the government authorises fishing of a “keystone species” in Scotland, after concerns were raised with an environmental watchdog.

The Scottish Government’s marine directorate says it will carry out an “appropriate assessment” before the start of the wrasse fishing season on May 1 2025.

Experts have warned about the impact of fishing on stocks of wrasse – which are used as a cleaner fish to reduce lice on salmon in fish farms.

After the matter was raised with Environmental Standards Scotland (ESS), the government directorate said it had examined a report from the University of Glasgow and would carry out an assessment.

The Sustainable Inshore Fisheries Trust (SIFT), which says wrasse are a “keystone species” in Scottish inshore waters, welcomed the decision.

These assessments should just be the first step towards wider improvement in the management of the wrasse fishery

Charles Millar, executive director of SIFT, said: “This ruling today is a belated step forward. Environmental Standards Scotland is right to hold ministers to account for years of mismanagement of the wrasse fishery.

“The assessments now being required should have been done before the decision was taken to open the fishery.

“The wrasse fishery in English waters is well managed and Scotland should be no different. If there is to be any sort of sustainable fishery for these ecologically vital species, the Scottish Government must also urgently put in place a formal fisheries management plan.”

Dennis Archer, of the Coastal Communities Network who raised the issue with ESS, said: “Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate has long ignored its duties around the wrasse fishery, which should never have been opened without its effects being fully assessed. Sadly I remain unconvinced that these forthcoming assessments will be comprehensive, despite the requirement to do so.

“I also fear that the results process will not be made public fully transparent. All the impacts of the wrasse fishery must be considered, and these assessments should just be the first step towards wider improvement in the management of the wrasse fishery.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government recognises the importance of wild-caught wrasse, as cleaner fish, to the salmon farming sector and to the fishers who supply the sector.

“The importance we place on this fishery is reflected in our decision, in light of new scientific evidence, to carry out a Habitats Regulations Appraisal and Appropriate Assessment for 2025.

“We therefore welcome this ruling from Environmental Standards Scotland, which is consistent with our planned approach next year.

“In 2021, the Scottish Government introduced new mandatory management measures to what was previously an open fishery and set new obligations for the collection and reporting of data.

“We remain committed to improving the management of all commercially exploited fisheries in our inshore seas, and continue to improve the evidence base and management of the wild wrasse fishery.”