Inshore Fisheries Dashboard

For access to the inshore fisheries dashboard, please follow the data source link below.

The Marine Directorate (MD) of the Scottish Government is responsible for the integrated management of Scotland's seas. Its purpose is to manage Scotland's seas for prosperity and environmental sustainability, working closely with our key delivery partners and others.

The MD includes several portfolios who collaborate to oversee regulation, enforcement, science and policy development within Scottish waters. Staff also work closely with stakeholders, academia and delivery partners such as NatureScot, Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

Scotland's inshore waters extend from the coast out to 12 nautical miles (NM), with a concentration of fishing taking place within 6 NM. There are over 2,000 active Scottish fishing vessels and three quarters of them fish primarily in inshore waters. Typically these are smaller boats of 8-10 metres in length with one or two crew members, fishing daily from local ports. The inshore fleet is diverse and includes trawlers, creelers, netters, dredgers and divers. The main target of inshore fisheries are shellfish species, including Nephrops (Norway lobster), scallop, brown crab, lobster, velvet crab, and razor clam. Shellfish fisheries are a vital part of Scotland's marine economy, contributing significantly to employment, exports, and the sustainability of coastal communities. In 2024, shellfish landings by Scottish vessels were valued at £161 million, representing a substantial portion of the total £703 million landed across all sectors (Scottish Sea Fisheries Statistics).