The Scottish Government said new management measures for Scotland’s commercial crab and lobster stocks will be the focus of a new consultation just launched.

The consultation proposals include increasing the minimum sizes at which crab and lobster are allowed to be landed, and other measures designed to conserve shellfish stocks.

The consultation is now open for 12 weeks and closes to responses on Friday May 20, 2016.

“The brown crab, velvet crab and lobster fisheries are highly important to many of Scotland’s coastal communities, with landings worth £32 million being recorded in 2014,” said fisheries secretary Richard Lochhead.

“However, the most recent scientific assessments show that some of these stocks are being fished above recommended levels.

“To ensure that our inshore fisheries are sustainably and effectively managed we are consulting on new management measures for shellfish.

“In the past year we have introduced new landing controls for the crab and lobster fisheries in the Outer Hebrides and Orkney, and I am sure these proposals for the rest of the Scottish coast will be well received by inshore fishermen.

“I encourage anyone with an interest in fisheries management in Scotland to respond to the consultation and give us their views.”