Open Government Licence (OGL)

Every year, Marine Scotland survey scallop stocks around Scotland and collect biological information on relevant fish and shellfish species. Scallop dredge hauls (30 min duration) are carried out at fixed stations, and the catch rate per hour is calculated.

This layer shows the locations of dredge spoil deposit sites that are designated as disused (not used for at least 5 years) or closed (not used for at least 10 years or specifically closed). The spoil is usually as a result of navigational dredging (deepening of navigation channels) on the approaches to ports and harbours.

The laying of a permanent mooring or other equipment to hold a vessel requires consent from the relevant landowner. For the seabed, this consent will nearly always come from Crown Estate Scotland, who issue three types of mooring licence.

• Individual: This is suitable for private individuals
• Commercial: A licence for businesses such as ferry operators, boatyards, charter boats and diving vessels
• Associations:  Once established, associations are given a seabed agreement enabling them to manage their members’ moorings within a specific area. Associations are suitable for groups of ten or more moorings and provide a degree of security as pressure on areas traditionally occupied by moorings increases.

A mask layer depicting the exclusive economic zone limits adjacent to Scotland, which reflects the extent of the Scottish zone defined in the Scotland Act 1998.