Marine Environment Citation and commencement 1 This Order may be cited as the Offshore Fishing (Prohibition of Fishing Methods) (Scotland) Order 2025 and comes into force on 16 October 2025. Interpretation 2 In this Order— “ beam trawl ” means a trawl which has its mouth extended by a beam, bar or other rigid device and is designed and rigged to operate on or near the seabed, “ bottom trawl ” means a trawl designed and rigged to operate on or near the seabed, other than a beam trawl, “ co-ordinate ” means a co-ordinate of latitude and longitude according to the World Geodetic System 1984 , “ creel, pot, or trap ” means a basket, small cage, pot, receptacle or container with one or more openings or entrances which may be baited and placed either on the seabed or suspended above it for the purpose of catching sea fish, “ demersal mobile gear ” means— a demersal seine net, a demersal trawl, a dredge, “ demersal seine net ” means an encircling net, attached to ropes, which is actively moved in the water by one or more fishing vessels, “ demersal static gear ” means any gear or catch operation that does not require an active movement, that makes or has the potential to make contact with the sea bed, and includes— a creel, pot, or trap, a floated demersal longline, a static net, “ demersal trawl ” means a beam trawl or a bottom trawl, “ dredge ” means— a mechanical dredge, a suction dredge which raises material and sea fish from the seabed by the use of a solids pump, air lift or water jets which dig into the seabed, “ entangler net ” means a static net consisting of a wall of netting rigged so that the netting is hung onto ropes to create a greater amount of slack netting than a gillnet, “ gillnet ” means a static net made up of a single piece of net and held vertically in the water by floats and weights, “ static net ” means any set net and includes— an entangler net, a gillnet, a trammel net, “ trammel net ” means a static net made up of several layers of netting with two outer layers of a large mesh size and a sheet of small mesh sandwiched between them, “ trawl ” means a net closed at the back by a bag or codend which is actively moved in the water by one or more fishing vessels. Prohibited methods of fishing in the Braemar Pockmarks Special Area of Conservation 3 1 Fishing for sea fish with demersal mobile gear or demersal static gear is prohibited in the Braemar Pockmarks Special Area of Conservation. 2 In this article “ Braemar Pockmarks Special Area of Conservation ” means the area described in schedule 1. Prohibited methods of fishing in the Central Fladen Protected Areas 4 1 Fishing for sea fish with demersal mobile gear is prohibited in the Central Fladen First Protected Area and the Central Fladen Second Protected Area. 2 In this article— “ Central Fladen First Protected Area ” means the area described in Part 1 of schedule 2, “ Central Fladen Second Protected Area ” means the area described in Part 2 of schedule 2. Prohibited methods of fishing in the Darwin Mounds Special Area of Conservation 5 1 Fishing for sea fish with demersal mobile gear or demersal static gear is prohibited in the Darwin Mounds Special Area of Conservation. 2 In this article “ Darwin Mounds Special Area of Conservation ” means the area described in schedule 3. Prohibited methods of fishing in the East of Gannet and Montrose Fields Protected Areas 6 1 Fishing for sea fish with a demersal trawl or dredge is prohibited in the East of Gannet and Montrose Fields First Protected Area. 2 Fishing for sea fish with a beam trawl or dredge is prohibited in the East of Gannet and Montrose Fields Second Protected Area. 3 In this article— “ East of Gannet and Montrose Fields First Protected Area ” means the area described in Part 1 of schedule 4, “ East of Gannet and Montrose Fields Second Protected Area ” means the area described in Part 2 of schedule 4. Prohibited methods of fishing in the East Rockall Bank Protected Areas 7 1 Fishing for sea fish with demersal mobile gear is prohibited in the East Rockall Bank First Protected Area and the East Rockall Bank Second Protected Area. 2 Fishing for sea fish with demersal mobile gear or demersal static gear is prohibited in the— a East Rockall Bank Third Protected Area, b East Rockall Bank Fourth Protected Area, c East Rockall Bank Fifth Protected Area, d East Rockall Bank Sixth Protected Area. 3 In this article— “ East Rockall Bank First Protected Area ” means the area described in Part 1 of schedule 5, “ East Rockall Bank Second Protected Area ” means the area described in Part 2 of schedule 5, “ East Rockall Bank Third Protected Area ” means the area described in Part 3 of schedule 5, “ East Rockall Bank Fourth Protected Area ” means the area described in Part 4 of schedule 5, “ East Rockall Bank Fifth Protected Area ” means the area described in Part 5 of schedule 5, “ East Rockall Bank Sixth Protected Area ” means the area described in Part 6 of schedule 5. Prohibited methods of fishing in the Faroe-Shetland Sponge Belt Protected Areas 8 1 Fishing for sea fish with demersal mobile gear is prohibited in the Faroe-Shetland Sponge Belt First Protected Area. 2 Fishing for sea fish with demersal mobile gear or demersal static gear is prohibited in the Faroe-Shetland Sponge Belt Second Protected Area. 3 In this article— “ Faroe-Shetland Sponge Belt First Protected Area ” means the area described in Part 1 of schedule 6, “ Faroe-Shetland Sponge Belt Second Protected Area ” means the area described in Part 2 of schedule 6. Prohibited methods of fishing in the Firth of Forth Banks Complex Protected Areas 9 1 Fishing for sea fish with a demersal trawl or dredge is prohibited in the— a Firth of Forth Banks Complex First Protected Area (Berwick Bank), b Firth of Forth Banks Complex Second Protected Area (Scalp Bank and Wee Bankie), c Firth of Forth Banks Complex Third Protected Area (Montrose Bank). 2 In this article— “ Firth of Forth Banks Complex First Protected Area (Berwick Bank) ” means the area described in Part 1 of schedule 7, “ Firth of Forth Banks Complex Second Protected Area (Scalp Bank and Wee Bankie) ” means the area described in Part 2 of schedule 7, “ Firth of Forth Banks Complex Third Protected Area (Montrose Bank) ” means the area described in Part 3 of schedule 7. Prohibited methods of fishing in the Geikie Slide and Hebridean Slope Protected Areas 10 1 Fishing for sea fish with demersal mobile gear is prohibited in the— a Geikie Slide and Hebridean Slope First Protected Area, b Geikie Slide and Hebridean Slope Second Protected Area, c Geikie Slide and Hebridean Slope Third Protected Area. 2 In this article— “ Geikie Slide and Hebridean Slope First Protected Area ” means the area described in Part 1 of schedule 8, “ Geikie Slide and Hebridean Slope Second Protected Area ” means the area described in Part 2 of schedule 8, “ Geikie Slide and Hebridean Slope Third Protected Area ” means the area described in Part 3 of schedule 8. Prohibited methods of fishing in the North-east Faroe-Shetland Channel Protected Areas 11 1 Fishing for sea fish with demersal mobile gear or demersal static gear is prohibited in the North-east Faroe-Shetland Channel First Protected Area. 2 Fishing for sea fish with demersal mobile gear is prohibited in the North-east Faroe-Shetland Channel Second Protected Area. 3 In this article— “ North-east Faroe-Shetland Channel First Protected Area ” means the area described in Part 1 of schedule 9, “ North-east Faroe-Shetland Channel Second Protected Area ” means the area described in Part 2 of schedule 9. Prohibited methods of fishing in the North West Rockall Bank Protected Area 12 1 Fishing for sea fish with demersal mobile gear and demersal static gear is prohibited in the North West Rockall Bank Protected Area. 2 In this article “ North West Rockall Bank Protected Area ” means the area described in schedule 10. Prohibited methods of fishing in the Norwegian Boundary Sediment Plain Protected Areas 13 1 Fishing for sea fish with demersal mobile gear is prohibited in the Norwegian Boundary Sediment Plain First Protected Area. 2 Fishing for sea fish with a demersal trawl or dredge is prohibited in the Norwegian Boundary Sediment Plain Second Protected Area. 3 In this article— “ Norwegian Boundary Sediment Plain First Protected Area ” means the area described in Part 1 of schedule 11, “ Norwegian Boundary Sediment Plain Second Protected Area ” means the area described in Part 2 of schedule 11. Prohibited methods of fishing in the Pobie Bank Reef Protected Area 14 1 Fishing for sea fish with demersal mobile gear is prohibited in the Pobie Bank Reef Protected Area. 2 In this article “ Pobie Bank Reef Protected Area ” means the area described in schedule 12. Prohibited methods of fishing in the Scanner Pockmarks Special Area of Conservation 15 1 Fishing for sea fish with demersal mobile gear or demersal static gear is prohibited in the Scanner Pockmarks Special Area of Conservation. 2 In this article “ Scanner Pockmarks Special Area of Conservation ” means the area described in schedule 13. Prohibited methods of fishing in the Solan Bank Reef Protected Areas 16 1 Fishing for sea fish with demersal mobile gear is prohibited in the— a Solan Bank Reef First Protected Area, b Solan Bank Reef Second Protected Area, c Solan Bank Reef Third Protected Area, d Solan Bank Reef Fourth Protected Area, e Solan Bank Reef Fifth Protected Area. 2 Paragraph (1)(e) does not apply to sea fishing with a demersal trawl or a demersal seine net during the period beginning with 1 September and ending with 31 October in each year. 3 In this article— “ Solan Bank Reef First Protected Area ” means the area described in Part 1 of schedule 14, “ Solan Bank Reef Second Protected Area ” means the area described in Part 2 of schedule 14, “ Solan Bank Reef Third Protected Area ” means the area described in Part 3 of schedule 14, “ Solan Bank Reef Fourth Protected Area ” means the area described in Part 4 of schedule 14, “ Solan Bank Reef Fifth Protected Area ” means the area described in Part 5 of schedule 14. Prohibited methods of fishing in the Stanton Banks Protected Areas 17 1 Fishing for sea fish with demersal mobile gear is prohibited in the— a Stanton Banks First Protected Area, b Stanton Banks Second Protected Area, c Stanton Banks Third Protected Area. 2 In this article— “ Stanton Banks First Protected Area ” means the area described in Part 1 of schedule 15, “ Stanton Banks Second Protected Area ” means the area described in Part 2 of schedule 15, “ Stanton Banks Third Protected Area ” means the area described in Part 3 of schedule 15. Prohibited methods of fishing in The Barra Fan and Hebrides Terrace Seamount Protected Areas 18 1 Fishing for sea fish with demersal mobile gear or demersal static gear is prohibited in The Barra Fan and Hebrides Terrace Seamount First Protected Area. 2 Fishing for sea fish with demersal mobile gear is prohibited in The Barra Fan and Hebrides Terrace Seamount Second Protected Area. 3 In this article— a “ The Barra Fan and Hebrides Terrace Seamount First Protected Area ” means the area described in Part 1 of schedule 16, b “ The Barra Fan and Hebrides Terrace Seamount Second Protected Area ” means the area described in Part 2 of schedule 16. Prohibited methods of fishing in the West of Scotland Marine Protected Area 19 1 Fishing for sea fish with demersal mobile gear or demersal static gear is prohibited in the West of Scotland Marine Protected Area. 2 In this article “ West of Scotland Marine Protected Area ” means the area described in schedule 17. Prohibited methods of fishing in the West Shetland Shelf Protected Areas 20 1 Fishing for sea fish with a beam trawl or dredge is prohibited in the West Shetland Shelf First Protected Area, 2 Fishing for sea fish with a bottom trawl or a demersal seine net is prohibited in the West Shetland Shelf Second Protected Area and West Shetland Shelf Third Protected Area. 3 In this article— “ West Shetland Shelf First Protected Area ” means the area described in Part 1 of schedule 18, “ West Shetland Shelf Second Protected Area ” means the area described in Part 2 of schedule 18, “ West Shetland Shelf Third Protected Area ” means the area described in Part 3 of schedule 18. Prohibited methods of fishing in Wyville Thomson Ridge Protected Areas 21 1 Fishing for sea fish with demersal mobile gear is prohibited in the Wyville Thomson Ridge First Protected Area. 2 Fishing for sea fish with demersal mobile gear or demersal static gear is prohibited in the Wyville Thomson Ridge Second Protected Area. 3 In this article— a “ Wyville Thomson Ridge First Protected Area ” means the area described in Part 1 of schedule 19, b “ Wyville Thomson Ridge Second Protected Area ” means the area described in Part 2 of schedule 19. Requirement to stow fishing gear 22 1 While a fishing vessel is within a protected area the master of the vessel must ensure that any fishing gear carried on board the vessel is properly stowed in such a way that it may not be readily used. 2 In this article— a “ protected area ” means an area described in any of the schedules, b “ fishing gear ” means, in relation to a protected area, the fishing gear of the description specified in the article relating to that area. GILLIAN MARTIN A member of the Scottish Government St Andrew’s House, Edinburgh 28th August 2025