Ministers urged action to protect the ‘keystone species’ of coastal waters

A more precautionary approach should be taken to managing fish stocks described as a “keystone species” in Scotland, an expert has said.

Dr. David Bailey, a lecturer in marine biology at the University of Glasgow, said there are “good reasons to be concerned about Scotland’s wrasse fishery”, adding that the fish are “vulnerable to overexploitation”.

He was speaking as MSPs consider a petition from the Sustainable Inshore Fisheries Trust (Sift) calling on ministers to introduce a statutory fisheries management plan aimed at protecting wild wrasse stocks.

It will be considered by members of the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee in Holyrood on Wednesday, and comes as Scotland’s environmental standards are expected to rule that appropriate assessments must be required in special conservation areas before wrasses can be caught.

Sift director Charles Millar described wrasses – which are used as a cleaner fish to reduce lice on salmon in fish farms – as a “keystone species in Scotland’s coastal waters”.

But he accused the Scottish Government of having “failed” to protect the species so far, adding that the fish are caught during their breeding season.

Mr Millar said: “Currently salmon farming has a disproportionate influence on the way the wrasse fishery operates.

‘It wants wrasse fishing in early summer, so the government allows fishing then even though it is wrasse breeding season.

“Nearly a year ago, Sift wrote to Scottish Ministers calling on them to meet their marine management responsibilities, and in particular to develop a wrasse fisheries management plan based on sound science.

“But the government has failed to take action and so we now hope that the Scottish Parliament will listen and take action.”

Dr. Bailey said: “There are good reasons to be concerned about Scotland’s wrasse fishery. They have many life history traits that make them vulnerable to overexploitation, and there are major gaps in the scientific base we need to manage fisheries and assess the broader ecological impacts of wrasse removal.

“Under these circumstances, the approach to this fishery should be much more precautionary until adequate assessments of wrasse populations and spatial connectivity have been undertaken and we understand something about the ecological impacts of this fishery.”

As a “first measure”, the expert proposes closing protected reefs to the wrasse fishery, saying this would “ensure that at least some wrasse populations survive, and the ecological impacts of the wrasse fishery can be assessed”.

Bally Philp, the national coordinator of the Scottish Creel Fisherman’s Federation, said that while the consequences of removing large numbers of wrasse are unknown, “we fear this will endanger other commercial fish stocks, as well as the ecosystems on which they depend”.

He said: “Like many other fisheries, a good fisheries management plan, based on good data, with appropriate closed periods is needed to protect the breeding seasons of wrasse.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Mandatory controls are in place to protect wild wrasse and manage the limited fishery, including a closed season, limits on catches and size.

“Controls are continuously assessed and based on the best available evidence.

“As set out in a letter to the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee from the Secretary of State for Rural Affairs, the Scottish Government will undertake a fisheries assessment on the impacts of removing wild wrasse from marine protected areas and special areas of conservation ahead of the 2025 fishery. season.

“The assessment will be based on new advice from NatureScot.

“The Scottish Animal Welfare Commission is also assessing the welfare aspects of using cleaner fish in salmon production and we look forward to their recommendations.”