The comprehensive way members of the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association have embraced the industry-science data collection initiative is testament to the industry’s commitment to sustainability and ensuring better stock management, says chairman Richard Williamson.

The Scottish Pelagic Industry-Science Data Collection Programme is a collaboration between the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen’s Association, UHI Shetland and the Marine Directorate of the Scottish government. Within the programme, crews onboard Scottish pelagic fishing vessels undertake sampling of their catches in two ways: self-sampling, whereby vessel crews measure the length and weight of a sample of fish in the catch; and co-sampling, whereby crews collect frozen samples of fish for scientists onshore to carry out biological sampling of length, sex, maturity and ageing.

The data collected provide valuable biological information for each of the targeted species, highlighting patterns and changes in distribution and size of fish in the catch. In January 2022 the co-sampling scheme was adopted under Scotland’s national sampling programme to become the main mechanism for collecting biological data on the catches of pelagic fish to be used in stock assessments.

Richard Williamson is the co-skipper of the Whalsay based vessel, Research, and who has a proud fishing heritage that goes back several generations.

He says: “Communities in places like Whalsay in Shetland are totally dependent on fishing and where sustainability is the fundamental bedrock of everything we do. Sustainability means everything to us because our futures depend upon it, which is the core reason why were so keen to participate in the data collection process.

“If we can provide extra data that fills in the gaps in our knowledge of stocks, then that can only be a good thing, and which has resulted in universal support for the scheme from the Scottish pelagic fleet.

“With financial constraints on governmental budgets, it makes sense to use fishing vessels as research platforms as this greatly increases the coverage of data collection, leading to better science and more informed fish stock management.

“The fishing crew members engaged in the sampling are interested in the processes involved and now see it as an important and integral part of their everyday work.

“The data collection programme also fosters a greater understanding between fishermen and scientists, where we can gain an insight into each other’s perspective and how we can move forward to ensure even greater co-operation in the future.”