The Scottish government has launched a consultation on potential proposals to legalise electrical fishing for razor clams.
According to the Scottish government’s statement, it is seeking stakeholder views on whether the existing ban on electrofishing for razor clams should be removed from legislation.
Initial studies suggest that electrical harvesting does not have immediate short-term negative impacts on target and non-target species, concluding that electrofishing is likely to be a more environmentally benign method of fishing than some other traditional methods.
Recognising that there is likely to be a range of views on this proposal, the Government is seeking opinions, particularly from environmental interests and from those living in close proximity to inshore fishing areas.
