Scientific and environmental research in Scottish fisheries.

Scottish fishermen are becoming ever more conscious that the sustainability of the fisheries they exploit is explicitly linked to the sustainability of their livelihoods. They are quick to acknowledge that in order to achieve a secure future for themselves and future generations of Scottish fishermen, modern fisheries management must be based on sound scientific fact. They have taken huge steps to forge and develop close working relationships with research establishments from both government and academic quarters. In some cases they have lead with their own initiatives to provide Scottish fisheries with the best possible data in the fields of biological and environmental research.

This wholehearted co-operation and the expertise of the catching sector has given the Scottish industry an enviable working relationship with scientific institutes and government. Today, other countries look to the Scottish industry-science relationship as a model to which they aspire.

Some of the institutes that play a key role with industry are summarised in the sections listed below: