Find more funding
There are many other organisations who may be offering funding that will help you, and our handy funding search tool brings them all together.
Have Your Say Before 11 March: Consultation Opens on Fisheries Management Plans for Demersal Stocks
Fishers Urged to Respond as Demersal Management Consultation Nears 11 March Deadline
People across Scotland’s coastal, island and fishing communities are being encouraged to take part in a major consultation that will help shape the future of demersal fisheries management for years to come.
The Scottish Government, working jointly with the other UK fisheries administrations, has published 11 proposed Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) covering key demersal fish stocks including haddock, whiting, monkfish, megrim, saithe, hake, ling and cod. These plans set out evidence‑based policies and actions designed to restore or maintain stocks at sustainable levels and support a thriving fishing sector into the future.
Demersal species — fish that live and feed on or near the seabed — remain central to Scotland’s fishing economy. In recent years they have accounted for around a quarter of the total value of fish landed by Scottish vessels, with more than 150 boats relying heavily on these stocks. The proposed plans outline measures to harvest responsibly, reduce waste and illegal discarding, minimise environmental impacts, and support fishing businesses to continue delivering economic and cultural benefits for coastal and island communities.
The consultation also invites views on the accompanying Strategic Environmental Assessment and Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment, which set out the likely environmental and economic implications of the proposed actions. This is a key opportunity for fishers, processors, environmental organisations, community groups and anyone with an interest in Scotland’s marine environment to help shape the direction of fisheries policy.
The Scottish Government has emphasised that these plans represent a significant step forward in delivering long‑term sustainable fisheries management under the Fisheries Act 2020, and that broad engagement is essential to ensure the final plans reflect the experience and priorities of those who depend on these stocks. Online information sessions are already underway, with further events planned in early 2026 to support participation.
Deadline Approaching: 11 March 2026
The consultation is open now and closes at 23:59 on Wednesday 11 March 2026. Responses can be submitted through the online questionnaire or by email or post. Anyone with an interest in the future of Scotland’s demersal fisheries is urged to take part before the deadline. Scottish Government – Citizen Space
You can read the consultation documents and submit your views here.
