New measures to protect scallop stocks to come into force next month

New measures designed to protect scallop stocks will come into force in a month's time, the Scottish Government has said.

One of the changes will see the minimum landing size of scallops increased from 100mm to 105mm.

Ministers believe that move will help to protect the breeding stock and lead to an increase in yield and egg production.

Restrictions will also be placed on the number of dredges scallop vessels can tow in Scotland's inshore waters.

Vessels will be limited to having eight dredges per side, or 10 if they install electronic monitoring on-board.

Fisheries Secretary Fergus Ewing said: “The scallop sector is very important to many of our local communities and these management measures coming into force will help secure the long-term sustainability of the stock.

“Scottish vessels landed £33 million of king scallops in 2015 and helped to sustain jobs in some of our most rural communities, both directly on fishing vessels and related industries like processing.

“We are committed to protecting this important sector and have taken time to develop an approach that takes into account the variations in size in the fleet.”

The Regulation of Scallop Fishing (Scotland) Order 2017 will come into force, subject to parliamentary approval, on June 1.