History and Main Aims.

In December 2007 under the Cod Recovery Plan (CRP), the EU Fisheries Council gave Member States the option to administer their own effort control systems. The Scottish Government welcomed this move and conducted consultation with industry, fishery scientists and other stakeholders, such as those with environmental concerns; to bring about the introduction of the Scottish Conservation Credits Scheme (SCCS) in early 2008.

It has gone on to be developed and modified with very close co-operation and input from industry stakeholders of the Fisheries Management and Conservation (FMAC) Group . Members of the group are drawn from the industry itself, scientific expertise and environmental Non Government Organisations.

The main aim of the SCCS is to reduce cod mortality and general whitefish discards. This is achieved by providing a number of incentives to the demersal fleet in which pro conservation behaviours are promoted and rewarded. The Scheme partially exempts participating vessels from cuts in effort agreed under the CRP. It also provides the facility for Scottish vessels to operate under hours, rather than days, at sea, thus providing increased flexibility for the fleet and allowing them to conserve fuel and operate their vessels more safely.

For further information and details of the Scheme, please download a copy of our information note.

Additionally, you can watch a WWF video on the history and development of the Scheme:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbmbXhJKcnM

Or visit the Marine Scotland Fisheries pages here:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/marine/Sea-Fisheries/17681