Fish farm near Portree, Isle of Skye

© George Slesser, Marine Scotland Science

The Minches and Western Scotland region extends from the Mull of Kintyre in the south to Cape Wrath in the north, encompassing the extensive coastline of the Inner Hebrides and the east coast of the Western Isles. Much of the region is sheltered from the prevailing Atlantic waves. Water depths are between 50 m and 200 m and some areas become stratified in summer. The coastline is predominantly rocky but with many bays and sea lochs. The main offshore habitats are coarse sands, gravel and rock. There are large seasonal variations in sea-surface temperature, ranging from 6 °C in winter up to 15 °C in summer.

Climate change

The generally rocky coastline and the uplift of the land mean the coast is subject to little erosion and only a small proportion of the coast is vulnerable to rising sea levels. Sea temperature is rising but there are no documented changes to the ecosystem in this region.

Maritime economy

The coastline supports a range of inshore fisheries for shellfish and fin-fish. Inshore rocky areas support a widespread crustacean (lobster and crab) potting fishery and there is a significant fishery for Nephrops and pelagic fisheries for herring, mackerel and horse mackerel. Aquaculture includes fin-fish, particularly salmon, and shellfish, including oysters and scallops in the northern part of Strathclyde. Marine wildlife watching is of particular value in the Minches and Western Scotland and leisure diving, particularly around the Inner Hebrides, is an important sector.

Fishing pressure

With the exception of saithe, assessed commercial fish stocks are neither at full reproductive capacity nor being harvested sustainably, including stocks of cod and haddock. This region, of all regions, has seen the most dramatic reduction in fishing effort in recent years, which has led to improvements in the composition, structure and functioning of the demersal fish community. The overall condition of the demersal fish community is on a par with that observed in 1986 when good information was available. Populations of basking sharks may be recovering following the closure of a directed fishery.

However, we found that fishing activities may still be having a significant impact on subtidal sediment habitats, although our confidence in the assessment is low.

Other issues affecting status

Seabird breeding numbers have declined over the past 20 years in part due to predation by introduced mammals. Management of the mammals, which include mink and hedgehogs, is leading to increasing numbers of seabirds. Poor food supply in some years may also be contributing to declining numbers.

Marine mammals may become entangled in ropes and nets and in the Minches there is concern about entanglement of Minke whales, which are important to the local economy, through marine wildlife watching. Fishing activity may be indirectly affecting seals through removal of prey but there is also some pressure on seal numbers through illegal killing.

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