Scottish Government

What are discards?

Discards are the portion of a catch of fish which is not retained on board during commercial fishing operations and is returned, often dead or dying, to the sea.

Why is discarding a problem?

Discarding can impact on the environment in two ways; firstly, through increased mortality to target and non-target species particularly at juvenile life-history stages, and secondly, through alteration of food webs by supplying increased levels of food to scavenging organisms on the sea floor, and to sea birds. The impact of discarding varies by species: some species including whitefish, such as cod and haddock, have low survivability when discarded whereas other species including sharks or crustaceans, such as Nephrops, may have higher survival rates.

Why do discards happen?

Discarding happens for a variety of reasons and there is no straightforward solution to the problem, particularly in the context of Scottish mixed fisheries. Reasons for discarding may include:

• a vessel catching undersized fish that are below the legal minimum landing size. Landing these fish, which may not have reproduced, could lead to a situation where a market is developed for very small fish, and would be detrimental for the long-term sustainability of the stock;
• catch composition rules, which limit the percentage of a given species within the catch. These rules are put in place to protect a stock at risk of over-exploitation (e.g. cod) that is usually found in the same shoal as another commercial fish species (e.g. whiting). This provides protection to the species at risk, whilst allowing other species to be targeted;
• a vessel catching species for which there is no or low market value. This can encourage "high grading", the process of selecting fish from a catch by size or quality and discarding the surplus;
• lack of quota. It is illegal to land fish without sufficient quota coverage and a vessel may have exhausted its quota for a particular species.

How much is discarded?

Data from 2011 ICES advice:

What is Scotland doing in order to reduce discard levels?

The Scottish Government takes the issue of discard reduction very seriously and has supported EU-led initiatives to promote discard reduction as well as implementing its own measures. Scotland actively promotes a fisheries management system which allows vessels to "catch less, land more". Marine Scotland are keen to ensure that precious natural resources are managed sustainably and protected for future generations.

Some of the measures currently underway to reducing discarding across the Scottish fleet are:

• Using more selective fishing nets and other gear to avoid catching the unwanted fish in the first place. Trials for further selective gear types are underway
• Observing real-time temporary closures, or seasonal closures, of rich fishing grounds during critical times
• CCTV scheme and observer programme to deter discarding
• High grading (the discarding of fish which can be landed legally) is banned
• Slipping (the releasing the fish before the net is fully taken on board the fishing vessel, resulting in the loss of dead or dying fish) is banned in pelagic fisheries
• Jigging machines in the pelagic fisheries sample the catch prior to nets being lowered so that skippers can avoid catching unwanted fish

Scottish Conservation Credits Scheme

The promotion of behavioural change within the fleet is vital to resolving the issue of discarding. The Scottish industry has embarked on the project of significantly reducing discards under the Scottish Conservation Credits Scheme. The Scheme has incentivised both spatial and selective discard reduction measures including the widespread use of Square Mesh Panels and the avoidance of cod abundant areas under the Real Time Closures system. More information on Real Time Closures are avaible online.

Discards information released under Environmental Information Regulations

Correspondence released between Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Environment and Richard Benyon, Minister for Natural Environment and Fisheries on the subject of discards can be read in this section.