Hansard

I am delighted to open the debate on Scotland's first ever marine bill. This is truly a historic day for Scotland, our seas and the people of Scotland who want our seas to be protected and managed properly for future generations.

Scotland's first marine bill is crucial legislation that is designed to protect and enhance our world-class marine area. We are all well aware of the importance of Scotland's spectacular seas—our dolphins, basking sharks, coral reefs and seabirds, such as puffins, are already internationally renowned and acknowledged. I have already taken action this year to ban the barbaric practice of shark finning in Scottish waters, in order to provide more protection for that endangered species.

Much of what we do is underpinned by Scotland's fantastic marine science resource and the bill will also be underpinned by that expertise. The marine protected areas will be driven by science and they will now also take into account, and where appropriate have regard to, socioeconomic factors. We have a proud history in marine science. More than 100 years ago, Scotland was the world leader in oceanographic and marine research. The marine laboratory at Aberdeen, which is now a core part of Marine Scotland, has records that go back more than 100 years. As we move forward, science will become even more important.

Let us not forget that the nation of Scotland has a history that is intimately connected to the sea. The seas have played a huge role in defining who we are as Scots and how we view the world. Our spectacular, resource-rich seas have shaped our nation. They have driven both our economy and social change, from the rise of the city of Glasgow and shipbuilding, through to Peterhead, one of Europe's major white-fish ports, and the oil and gas capital of Aberdeen.

Our island communities are shaped and largely defined by their relationship with our marine environment. Our island representatives in the Parliament are particularly well aware that the marine environment is the life blood of many communities in Scotland. From the largest communities to the single crofter on the shores of a loch, Scots interact with the seas on a daily basis.

Of course, new times require new approaches to harness the tremendous potential of our seas while delivering protection and enhancement. In a routine survey of the dredge-spoil disposal site in the Sound of Canna, Marine Scotland recently discovered and took video footage of dozens of fanshells. Fanshells are Scotland's biggest shells; they grow to about 0.5m. In this case, they were found at depths of 175m. That discovery massively expands the known population of that amazing species. The previous estimate of the live population around the United Kingdom was 14, of which three were in Scotland. Fanshells are amazing creatures that filter and improve the water in the sea areas where they live. I intend that those fanshells, and the other fantastic and unique species and habitats in our waters should be protected, and that they should benefit from the Marine (Scotland) Bill, which I hope we will pass this afternoon.

The bill delivers a step change in our approach to the marine environment. It delivers enhanced protection, ensuring that the marine environment will be safe for our children, their children and generations beyond. The bill ensures that we have the tools safely to exploit the full resource potential of the seas. The renewables industry is a case in point. The bill provides us with the tools potentially to deliver 12GW from Scotland's seas by 2020, taking into account the offshore wind, wave and tidal projects that are proposed. Development on that scale would well exceed Scotland's renewable energy target of 50 per cent of electricity demand by 2020. That is one way in which our seas are helping Scotland and the world to tackle climate change.

The bill heralds a new era for Scotland's marine environment. It is trail blazing. In time, the passing of the bill will prove to be one of the Parliament's proudest moments. It has been possible only because of the effort and contributions of so many people and organisations. There was a huge response to the consultation. We have held workshops and meetings with stakeholders over the past couple of years that have allowed us to listen and learn from those with an interest in and expert knowledge of the marine environment. As well as the major organisational stakeholders—Scottish Environment LINK and the Scottish Fishermen's Federation to name but two—there has been a major input from thousands of Scots, who have wanted to make their views known on the future of Scotland's marine environment. Every sector and age group has engaged throughout the process. Letters about the bill came to the Government from primary school pupils in Ullapool. I worked with the Scottish Wildlife Trust, which worked with those children and wrote to us about its concerns and aspirations for Scotland's marine environment.

Turning to the Parliament, I thank members of the Finance Committee, the Subordinate Legislation Committee and, in particular, the Rural Affairs and Environment Committee. The bill has benefited from the detailed interest and scrutiny of that committee's members, and we have a stronger and better bill as a result of the parliamentary process.

I put on record our thanks to the committee clerks, who have worked extremely hard to support the committees' work. I thank my officials, who have been up many an evening burning the midnight oil to ensure that the Scottish Government continued to work closely with Parliament and with others with an interest in the bill to make it a bill of which the Parliament can be proud.

The bill reflects the aspirations of the people of Scotland and members of the Parliament. Scotland's first ever marine bill is the start of a journey, a journey that will bring prosperity to Scotland and protect our wonderful marine environment. The bill allows the development of a national marine plan and the setting up of Scottish marine regions. The national marine plan will be a key document in setting out our aspirations for Scotland's seas. The marine regions will be key to involving stakeholders all around our coasts in the future of the seas. Marine planning will provide better information and greater certainty on which to base investment decisions, and the new statutory marine planning system will ensure sustainable economic growth in the seas around Scotland.

The bill provides vital tools to protect and conserve our marine flora and fauna and historic assets, allowing the designation of marine protected areas. We will work closely with Scottish Natural Heritage and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee to develop the MPA network, and we will involve stakeholders closely in that project.

We will also develop a new licensing and reporting system for seals, and we will improve their protection. I have heard a lot said about what the bill does for seal protection, and there have been many misunderstandings. Let us all be clear: the bill is a major step forward in protecting our seal populations and it provides a system that is fit for the 21st century and which will help us to conserve our iconic seal species.