Sea Fisheries Compliance and Licensing Policy
The team has two functions: Compliance and Licensing
Compliance
This part of the team leads on the development of EU and domestic policy on fisheries compliance, including a wide range of policy initiatives to improve regulations, as well as current enforcement and control arrangements. These include: taking the lead on the management of relationships with the industry as a key component of compliance; the implementation of a shift from sea to more land-based enforcement; delivering continuous improvement in the control and monitoring of the landings of pelagic fish and demersal fish; and assisting in the development of new approaches to fisheries regulation such as administrative sanctions.
It also maintains the register of buyers and sellers of first sale fish which has proved a most effective innovation with regard to land based enforcement. Anyone wishing to register can contact the Compliance team for guidance or to be sent an application form (see contacts below). All applications to be added to the register are assessed by Compliance team.
It is also the lead branch on controls and weighing regulations in the Pelagic industry. In co-operation with their colleagues in the SFPA and with assistance from weights and measures inspectors, all the Pelagic processing factories have been visited and had their weighing equipment calibrated and sealed to ensure accurate amounts are recorded. Compliance team have an ongoing dialogue with the Pelagic catching sector and have taken steps to minimise misreporting of Pelagic stocks.
The Compliance team will by holding a consultation on the implementation of a system of administrative penalties for fisheries offences. Other new areas of work will be the introduction on a real time closures pilot scheme to preserve stocks of juvenile cod. Further details can be accessed at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/realtimeclosures
Licensing
The licensing part of the team leads on fishing vessel licensing policy within Scotland, including the preparation of licences, issue of licence variations and guidance and advice on licensing rules and transactions. The purpose of the fishing vessel licensing system is to control fishing opportunities so that the European Union (EU) regulations for sustainable fisheries management can be met. This is particularly important because many fish stocks are under pressure from over fishing.
Fishing vessels that are registered in the UK are not allowed to fish anywhere without a licence for sea fish which will be sold. A fishing vessel licence is the authority for a registered fishing vessel to fish for sea fish, and the licence specifies conditions which must be adhered to by vessel owners when fishing activity is being pursued.
For advice on compliance and licensing issues please contact one of the following:
Allan Gibb, Head of Sea Fisheries Compliance and Licensing Policy - Tel. 0131 244 4981 or email allan.gibb@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Kerrie Campbell, Compliance Policy Manager - Tel. 0131 244 4980 or email kerrie.campbellscotland.gsi.gov.uk
Jamie Combe, Enforcement Policy Officer - Tel. 0131 244 6593 or email jamie.combe@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Norman Preston, Licensing Executive - Tel. 0131 244 6188 or email Norman.Preston@scotland.gsi.gov.uk