Navigating Change: Scottish Cod Management in Recent Years
The management of cod fisheries in Scotland has been a topic of significant importance and scrutiny in recent years. Cod, a staple species in Scottish waters, has experienced a significant decline worldwide in population due to environmental changes such as warming seas. Concerns about the sustainability of cod stocks led to calls for urgent action to restore populations to healthy levels and sustain the livelihoods of those dependent on them.
These measures aimed to align fishing efforts with scientific recommendations for sustainable catch levels but have posed significant challenges for the fishing industry. Reduced quotas and fishing areas may result in lower catch volumes and potential income loss for fishermen and related businesses. Alongside area closures to protect spawning grounds and nursery areas, various other technical measures were introduced to reduce cod bycatch and minimize the impact of fishing on populations, including include mesh size regulations, gear modifications, and quota reductions. Recently, the status of the cod stocks in Scottish waters was determined to be much better than previously thought and many of the measures are now being reevaluated.
For the past two decades, measures to protect inshore spawning cod in the Firth of Clyde have included an annual 11-week seasonal closure between 14 February and 30 April. Cod prefer to spawn on harder substrate (coarse sand, gravel) but may also spawn on softer ground (sand, muddy sand, sandy mud). The closure area takes this into account and prohibits fishing activity in likely cod spawning areas while leaving muddy areas open for fishing activity. The Clyde Cod Box closure applied to net fishing of cod, but there were exemptions to allow bottom contact fishing (static/creel fishing or mobile fishing) on the grounds that low numbers of cod bycatch were being caught. However, the government said that the stock had shown little sign of recovery and has therefore made the decision that the exemptions must end, which could have very serious impacts on the fishing families of the Clyde.
As Scotland continues to navigate the complexities of the cod fishery, collaboration, innovation, and adaptability will be key. BATmap has the ability to play a crucial role in Scottish fisheries management by helping to reduce cod by-catch through collection of real time data on location and movement patterns. Nephrops skippers in the Clyde have been participating in BATmap since early 2024 and have collected meaningful data that can be contributed towards future management strategies. By working together with stakeholders, and implementing science-based solutions, cod managers can work towards sustainability of the species while fostering policies that provide prosperity to coastal communities.
