‘My commitment is to keep listening, to get the balance right’
In this ViewPoint contribution, Scotland’s fishing minister Jim Fairlie urges everyone with a stake to participate in the latest consultation on new management measures for existing marine protected areas (MPAs). He insists that the government has learned from the ill-fated HMPA consultation and adds that this is about “having a conversation” and work as partners.
Photo: Shetland News
“I understand the importance of fishing to the Shetland community and know that changes to how we manage our seas can feel unsettling for those whose livelihoods depend on them.
As Minister for Agriculture, Marine and the Islands, I want to be upfront about that, and about why we’re taking the approach we are.
Our seas are a shared resource, and protecting them properly means looking after fish stocks, habitats and the long-term future of the very industries that rely on healthy marine environments. That’s why 37% of Scotland’s seas are now designated as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), with fisheries management measures already in place across a significant share of that network.
Since October 2025, when new fisheries management measures came into force, 93.5% of our offshore MPA network has been closed to bottom trawling, and 13% of our inshore MPAs are now closed to nephrops trawling and scallop dredging. These are meaningful steps, but I recognise they don’t come without real impact on communities like Shetland’s, where fishing is central to local life and the local economy.
That’s precisely why we’re taking care over what comes next. In the coming weeks, we will consult on further protections for inshore MPAs and Priority Marine Features (habitats of high conservation importance), a project that has been developed with extensive input from the fishing sector for nearly a decade.
Given the scale and complexity of this work, covering more than 160 sites, we are extending the consultation period to 16 weeks. This extra time will help make sure the evidence we gather is robust, the proposals are clear, and fishing communities in Shetland and beyond have a fair and full opportunity to have their say.
I understand the concerns that many in the fishing sector have voiced about their livelihoods and the pace of change.
This week, as part of my summer tour, I have been in Shetland meeting industry leaders including the Shetland Fishermen’s Association, the Shetland Shellfish Management Organisation, and representatives from shellfish companies, to hear directly from those who know these waters best.
Over the coming weeks I will also be meeting with those organisations that are concerned with the current status of the marine environment and the pace of action, to understand the view of all stakeholders.
My commitment is to keep listening, to get the balance right, and to work with Shetland’s communities, as we chart a sustainable course for these seas and those who depend on them.
Note: The consultation has not opened yet. We will publish a link to the appropriate consultation page at a later date.
