The Scottish Government, mainly in support of the policy responsibilities of the Marine Scotland, supports research on fisheries and marine science. The work is principally delivered by Marine Scotland Science (formerly the Fisheries Research Services (FRS)) but the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), sponsored by other Directorates, also make relevant contributions.
The work of Marine Scotland Science (MSS) plays an important part in supporting Marine Scotland's vision of having marine and coastal environments which are clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse.
MSS provide expert scientific and technical advice on marine and freshwater fisheries, aquaculture, and the protection of the aquatic environment and its wildlife. This is to ensure that - as far as possible - the policies and regulatory activities of Government are supported by full and up-to-date knowledge. MSS also enhances the value of its research by participating in shared cost projects with other institutes, e.g. through research funded by the European Commission and more recently by establishing 'Partnership Agreements' with key Scottish Universities.
The work of Marine Scotland Science is split in to 6 teams:
- The Freshwater Programme, based in Pitlochry, which deals with the management and research of freshwater fisheries issues in Scotland.
- The Aquaculture and Fish Health Programme, which aims to support a healthy and sustainable Scottish aquaculture industry and to safeguard the health of wild fish stocks, through regulation and scientific advice supported by high quality research.
- The Marine Assessment Programme, which aims to assess the quality of the marine environment, understanding the effects of both natural fluctuations and man's activities - including fishing - upon the sea and its wildlife with the ultimate objective of delivering environmental sustainability and prosperity.
- The Marine Ecosystem Programme, which deals with the management of marine fish and shellfish, including the regular monitoring and assessment of the main fish and shellfish stocks of interest to Scotland.
- Science Operations Unit, which designs, constructs and operates custom-built equipment in support of many areas of scientific work within Marine Scotland Science e.g. mechanical and fishing-gear systems for marine and freshwater use.
- The Marine Analytical Unit, which supports effective policy development and operational delivery within Marine Scotland.