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Environmental Enhancement Programmes The Scottish pelagic industry will seek to explore the potential benefit of any programmes or projects which promote and enhance the marine ecosystem and environment as a whole, thus reducing environmental impact and footprint the fleet may have during fishing operations. In particular pelagic vessels will: • Always follow practices that minimise the emissions of dangerous substances during all fishing activities. As an absolute minimum, vessels will meet national standards but will endeavour to operate at a level promoting best practice. • Optimise energy consumption in all fishing operations. • Investigate programmes/projects and new technologies to optimise fuel consumption and other practices to save energy. • Follow good fishing practices which minimise gear loss and make every effort to follow procedures/protocols to mark and report lost gear. Wherever possible vessels will make every effort to retrieve lost gear and to retrieve any redundant gear which may become apparent during fishing activity. All such gear will be taken to shore and disposed of through a safe and recognised route. • Vessels will have a waste management plan in place onboard and will communicate and implement the plan during all operations. |