West coast sherman are hoping controversial new regulations on minimum landing sizes (MLS) for lobsters will be reconsidered by the head of Marine Scotland and two Scottish Government cabinet secretaries claiming it might harm their livelihoods.
Earlier this year, as part of a two-year measure, Marine Scotland increased the MLS to 88mm, which prompted creel shermen on the Isle of Skye to raise the matter with their local MSP, Kate Forbes.
In year two, the MLS rises to 90mm – which local shermen believe will hinder their trade. The creel shermen would like to see the same MLS of 87mm – which is the ideal plate-sized lobster – applied to the whole of Scotland.