ScotMap - Inshore Fisheries Mapping Project (2007-2011)
ScotMap is a Marine Scotland project which provides spatial information on the fishing activity of Scottish registered commercial fishing vessels under 15 m in overall length. The data were collected during face-to-face interview with individual vessel owners and operators and relate to fishing activity for the period 2007 to 2011. The data are aggregated and analysed to provide information on the monetary value, relative importance (relative value) and the usage (number of fishing vessels and crew) of seas around Scotland.
dataset
https://dx.doi.org/10.7489/1554-1
protocol: WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link
name: DOI: 10.7489/1554-1
description: Link to report and rasters (zipped tiffs)
protocol: OGC:WMS-1.1.1-http-get-map
name: ScotMap_Central_Divers_SCE_Vesselno
description: ScotMap_Central_Divers_SCE_Vesselno
protocol: OGC:WMS-1.1.1-http-get-map
name: ScotMap_Central_Divers_SCE_monetary
description: ScotMap_Central_Divers_SCE_monetary
protocol: OGC:WMS-1.1.1-http-get-map
name: ScotMap_Central_Monetary_Value
description: ScotMap_Central_Monetary_Value
protocol: OGC:WMS-1.1.1-http-get-map
name: ScotMap_Central_NumberCrew
description: ScotMap_Central_NumberCrew
protocol: OGC:WMS-1.1.1-http-get-map
name: ScotMap_Central_NumberVessels
description: ScotMap_Central_NumberVessels
protocol: OGC:WMS-1.1.1-http-get-map
name: ScotMap_Central_Pots_Crab_lobster_Vesselno
description: ScotMap_Central_Pots_Crab_lobster_Vesselno
protocol: OGC:WMS-1.1.1-http-get-map
name: ScotMap_Central_Pots_Crab_lobster_monetary
description: ScotMap_Central_Pots_Crab_lobster_monetary
protocol: OGC:WMS-1.1.1-http-get-map
name: ScotMap_Central_Pots_NEP
description: ScotMap_Central_Pots_NEP
protocol: OGC:WMS-1.1.1-http-get-map
name: ScotMap_Central_Pots_NEP_Vesselno
description: ScotMap_Central_Pots_NEP_Vesselno
protocol: OGC:WMS-1.1.1-http-get-map
name: ScotMap_Central_RelativeValue
description: ScotMap_Central_RelativeValue
protocol: OGC:WMS-1.1.1-http-get-map
name: ScotMap_Central_TowedDredges_SCE_Vesselno
description: ScotMap_Central_TowedDredges_SCE_Vesselno
protocol: OGC:WMS-1.1.1-http-get-map
name: ScotMap_Central_TowedDredges_SCE_monetary
description: ScotMap_Central_TowedDredges_SCE_monetary
protocol: OGC:WMS-1.1.1-http-get-map
name: ScotMap_Central_Trawls_NEP_Vesselno
description: ScotMap_Central_Trawls_NEP_Vesselno
protocol: OGC:WMS-1.1.1-http-get-map
name: ScotMap_Central_Trawls_NEP_monetary
description: ScotMap_Central_Trawls_NEP_monetary
protocol: OGC:WMS-1.1.1-http-get-map
name: ScotMap_Central_Trawls_notNEP_Vesselno
description: ScotMap_Central_Trawls_notNEP_Vesselno
protocol: OGC:WMS-1.1.1-http-get-map
name: ScotMap_Central_Trawls_notNEP_monetary
description: ScotMap_Central_Trawls_notNEP_monetary
protocol: OGC:WMS-1.1.1-http-get-map
name: ScotMap_Central_line_MAC_Vesselno
description: ScotMap_Central_line_MAC_Vesselno
protocol: OGC:WMS-1.1.1-http-get-map
name: ScotMap_Central_line_MAC_monetary
description: ScotMap_Central_line_MAC_monetary
Marine_Scotland_FishDAC_1202
eng
EPSG
WGS 84 (EPSG:4326)
environment
oceans
revision
2010-10-23
Species distribution
publication
2008-06-01
-7.75714
-0.53202
61.46459
54.53297
publication
2007-12-13
SCT
creation
2013-07-13
notPlanned
ScotMap Methodology: Data were collected during face-to-face interviews with individual vessel owners and operators conducted between June 2011 and December 2012. Interviews were carried out by Marine Scotland Compliance staff, contractors and fishing industry representatives. During interviews, fishermen were asked questions about their fishing vessel, crew, home and landing port, fishing patterns, fishing methods and the gears used. They were also asked about their earnings from fishing, specifically to provide an estimate of the annual gross vessel earnings from fishing, an average value based on earnings over the last five years and estimates of the maximum and minimum annual gross vessel earnings over this period. 2011 was the reference year for the study. The data thus relate to the period 2007-2011. Fishing areas or ‘polygons’, as identified by fishermen during the interviews, were mapped electronically by the interviewer and the interviewee. Associated information on primary and secondary (if applicable) target species, fishing method and the fishermen’s estimate of the percentage contribution each fishing area makes to the gross vessel earnings, were also recorded. All interview data were recorded using ScotMap, a purpose designed graphical user interface linked to ArcMap 9.3.1, and written down to geodatabases. For further details of the Scotmap interview methodology see the “Draft report on ScotMap: the Inshore Fishing Study Pilot in Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters”. Data Analysis: Data from the interviews were subject to a series of checks to assess completeness and consistency of records and then assembled into a single geodatabase for further analysis. Aggregation and analysis of the data was performed using a script developed in R. This was applied to the whole data set and subsets relating to specific target species / gear combinations to produce raster outputs. (Please note individuals’ fishing areas are commercially sensitive information and therefore cannot be disclosed.) For monetary value, the value associated with each fishing polygon is calculated from the percentage contribution and gross vessel earnings data. Each polygon is overlaid with a grid (800 cells per ICES statistical rectangle with an average area of ca. 4.20 km2) and the polygon monetary value is divided by the number of overlapping grid cells, to equally distribute the value to all overlapping grid cells irrespective of the extent of the overlap. This process is repeated for all polygons and the values associated with each grid cell are finally summed to produce a gridded dataset. The analysis for relative value is similar to monetary value (above) but in this case the percentage associated with each polygon, rather than the absolute monetary value, is divided equally among the overlapping grid cells, before being summed to produce a gridded data set. Treatment of the data in this way reduces the influence of larger vessels, which generally have higher gross earnings and of those vessels fishing for relatively high value species, such as lobster and scallops, often evident in the monetary value analysis. Relative value provides an alternative representation of ‘the value’ of different fishing areas. It can indicate areas important to relatively large numbers of low earning boats, and other small, often remote sea areas which are particularly important to local boats, which may be less evident in the monetary value analysis. The number of vessels in each grid cell is the sum of the number of polygons which overlap the cell. Thus, if two fishing polygons associated with a single vessel overlap one grid cell the vessel will be counted twice in that cell and, contingent of the size of the polygon, a vessel will be counted in more than one cell. The numbers of vessels analysis provides information on the spatial extent of fishing as reported during interviews and a representation of fishing intensity – i.e. where most boats fish. It is not a necessarily a good indicator of fishing effort, particular for the combined (all interview) data set, or for fisheries where activity varies seasonally. Please note all rasters shared here have been aggregated to a minimum of 3 vessels per cell. For the analysis of number crew, the average number of crew working on a vessel is attributed to each polygon for that vessel. The same value is then allocated to each overlapping grid cell and numbers summed to derive the number of crew associated with each grid cell. Please note all rasters shared here have been aggregated to a minimum of 3 members of crew per cell. The Data Set and Interview Data Coverage: As of July 2013, 1,114 vessel owners or operators of Scottish registered vessels less than 15 m in length have been interviewed for ScotMap. Collectively, those interviewed identified 2,634 fishing areas or polygons. The majority of these areas relate to creel (pot) fishing. Of the 1,114 interviews, data from 24, which were missing essential information or had failed for technical reasons, are not included in the data set. Eighty six of the skippers interviewed declined to give vessel earnings information (10% overall). The data set therefore comprises data from 1,090 interviews and the monetary value maps are based on information from 1,004 interviews. Initially, a list of 1,505 vessels to be interviewed for ScotMap was compiled. This was based on Marine Scotland’s records of Scottish registered commercial fishing vessels, under 15 m overall length, with an active fishing licence entitlement as of April 2011. Vessels administered in ports in Shetland were not included. Despite every effort, it did not prove possible to interview all on the list. In some cases (241 vessels) interviewers were unable to contact owners to arrange interviews, some vessels had been sold, decommissioned or the licences had been transferred. A proportion of those approached (155 vessels) for interview declined to take part, some on the basis that they were no longer actively fishing. Not all of those interviewed provided vessel earnings information. During the study it became apparent that there were a few (5) other ‘relevant vessels’ that were not included on the initial list, these having acquired a licence entitlement and reported landings from Scottish waters after the list was drawn up. The initial target list was revised to a total of 1,510 vessels. To provide indicative information on the coverage provided by the ScotMap interview dataset, at both a national and a regional level, we provide: A summary based on number of vessels and the value of landings broken down according to the vessel port of administration (Table 1). The value of landings is as reported on the Scottish Fisheries Information Network (FIN) and a summary based on the value of landings again as recorded in FIN for combinations of ICES statistical rectangles, these the level at which landings are reported (Table 2). Two different methods of estimating coverage are presented because not all vessels under 15 m fish in the vicinity of their port of administration and using combinations of ICES statistical rectangles allows us to assess interview coverage for different sea areas. Users of the data should bear in mind the nature of the ScotMap interviews and the coverage provided by the ScotMap data set. The rasterised monetary value data and the monetary value map are based information provided by fishermen during interviews, their estimates of average earnings for the preceding five years (not vessel earnings as recorded on FIN) and the spatial information they provided, which was defined with variable precision. A proportional of skippers declined to be interviewed or to give earnings information. There appears to be some regional bias in the refusal / no contact rate. This is reflected in the assessment of regional coverage based on FIN landings (above) with the coverage being poorest in the West and South West OWPRs. On the other hand, coverage in North OWPR and for vessels administered from ports in the Outer Hebrides is relatively good. Overall, it is thought that the data are likely to under-represent the value of fishing by under 15 m vessels, particularly in regions where coverage is poor. The spatial representation of the value of fishing may also be less robust in regions where coverage is poor. Marine Scotland have consulted the fishing industry on the ScotMap data outputs (see below) and further work is planned to assess and describe data coverage and gaps. Feedback from Consultation: In April and May 2013 Marine Scotland organised a series of meetings with fishermen and fishing industry representatives to consult on the aggregated data and mapped outputs. In general, the maps were very well received and thought by fishermen to be a reasonable representation of the spatial extent, the type and the distribution of value of fisheries in their areas. Concerns were expressed about the ‘the gaps’ in the dataset, relevant vessels which had not been interviewed, and those for which earnings information was not available. Comments were also made about the way some fishermen had defined their fishing areas and the effect this has on the maps, dispersing value and giving a false impression of where some types of fishing are taking place. Notable ‘gaps’ identified during the consultation include dredge fishing activity in the West OWPR, creel fishing in the vicinity of Port Seton (East OWPR) lack of coverage of vessels fishing in some small west coast sea lochs and relatively poor coverage in the coverage West and South West OWPRs, particularly the Clyde and Solway.
GeoTIFF
1.0
The following attribution statement must be used:The following attribution statement must be used: Contains information from Scottish Government (Marine Scotland) licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
no limitations to public access
Scottish Government
Marine Scotland Science, Marine Laboratory, 375 Victoria Road
Aberdeen
AB11 9DB
United Kingdom
+44 (0)1224 876 544
pointOfContact
Scottish Government
Marine Scotland Science, Marine Laboratory, 375 Victoria Road
Aberdeen
AB11 9DB
United Kingdom
+44 (0)1224 876 544
originator
Scottish Government
Marine Scotland Science, Marine Laboratory, 375 Victoria Road
Aberdeen
AB11 9DB
United Kingdom
+44 (0)1224 876 544
custodian
Scottish Government
+44 (0)1224 876 544
pointOfContact
2020-07-08