Beatrice Wishart, MSP for the Shetland Islands and member of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, has raised a series of questions in the Scottish Parliament regarding the monitoring and licensing of non-UK registered fishing vessels operating in Scottish waters.
Gougeon responded by stating that the licensing of these vessels is managed by the UK Government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). As of August 12, 2024, there were 1,549 EU vessels, 213 Norwegian vessels, and 26 Faroese vessels with access licenses to fish in UK waters.
This substantial number of foreign vessels highlights the significant presence of non-UK fleets in Scottish waters, raising questions about the impact on local fisheries and the effectiveness of monitoring and regulation.
