Karen Adam MSP: More fish landed in Scotland means more jobs in Scotland!

Karen Adam MSP has welcomed the strengthened Scottish Economic Link licence, saying it helps make sure Scotland’s fish quota delivers real benefit to coastal communities like Banffshire and Buchan Coast.

The licence is simple. It means vessels using Scottish quota must land more of their catch into Scotland, or give quota back. For 2026, that includes a 70% landing requirement for mackerel and herring, with other key species covered by a 55% combined target.

Karen Adam said local processors made clear to her how important that is for jobs, investment and keeping work in her constituency, and she has been pressing that case directly with the Scottish Government and in Parliament. She raised the issue in the chamber in November 2025 and later lodged a Members’ Business motion on the economic value of the licence. 

Karen Adam MSP said:

“When more fish is landed here in Scotland, more of the value stays here too.

“That means more work for processors, more work for hauliers, engineers and ports, and more money moving round our local economy instead of leaving the country.

“In Banffshire and Buchan Coast, we know just how important seafood processing is. These are skilled jobs, hard working local businesses, and communities that depend on the industry doing well.

“I listened to processors, I raised their concerns, and I worked hard to be a voice for them with the Scottish Government because this is common sense. If Scotland’s quota is a national asset, then it should support Scottish jobs and Scottish businesses.”

Karen said the strengthened licence is especially important at a time when coastal businesses are under pressure and every opportunity to support local growth matters.

She added:

“This is good for local economics because it helps anchor supply, support confidence and protect jobs.

“If more fish is landed into Scotland, processors have a better chance to plan ahead, invest, take on staff and grow. That is exactly the kind of policy our coastal communities need.”

The Scottish Government has said the policy has already helped increase landings into Scotland, strengthen coastal economies and support investment, with record values

reported at Peterhead and Lerwick under the amended arrangements. Ministers have also stated that an additional £52 million worth of mackerel was landed in Scotland in 2023–24 following the earlier changes