Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 15 May 2013
15 May 2013 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Bill
I have not been involved in the bill’s passage but, although I recognise the concerns that members have expressed, I want to use the very short time that I have to welcome the provisions on the Solway cockle beds that the minister did not really have the time to describe in his speech.
The Solway cockle beds have had a very chequered history, having been overfished in the early 2000s and closed in 2002. The Solway Shellfish Management Association, which was formed in 2006 by a statutory instrument from this place, was given the unenviable task of regulating the cockle fishery when it reopened, as well as certain enforcement powers. However, of the more than 100 licences that were granted by the association, 50 per cent were local and the other 50 per cent were not. There was a huge stramash and loads of people turned up at my surgeries to complain about licences and all the rest of it. Unfortunately, despite those actions, cockle stocks declined further. No more licences were issued after 2007-08 and the beds had to be closed again in 2011.
Enforcement has always been extremely difficult. In past centuries, the Solway was infamous for the activities of pirates and smugglers and the physical features that aided those individuals—that coastline of bays and coves with few points of access to the sea from public roads and many crossing private land—also aided the illegal cocklers. Before and after the reopening of the fishery, I received reports from constituents living near the coast of possible illegal activity, including vehicles on the beach, caravans on private land that seemed to contain what might have been migrant workers and boats being launched from private access points. Although those reports were passed to the police and the SSMA, it was very difficult to follow them up.
Of course, such activity is not only illegal but potentially extremely dangerous. The incoming tide in the Solway is famously known as being faster than a galloping horse—in other words, more than 25 to 30mph. It is certainly faster than a person can run and faster than a vehicle can drive in soft sand, with the result that those who are exposed to illegal cockling are also in great danger of losing their lives. Indeed, we remember the events in Morecambe Bay in 2004, when 23 people lost their lives in a gang incident. The same thing could easily happen on the Solway.
At stage 2 we passed amendments to allow the courts to consider circumstantial evidence pointing to illegal activity—
The Solway cockle beds have had a very chequered history, having been overfished in the early 2000s and closed in 2002. The Solway Shellfish Management Association, which was formed in 2006 by a statutory instrument from this place, was given the unenviable task of regulating the cockle fishery when it reopened, as well as certain enforcement powers. However, of the more than 100 licences that were granted by the association, 50 per cent were local and the other 50 per cent were not. There was a huge stramash and loads of people turned up at my surgeries to complain about licences and all the rest of it. Unfortunately, despite those actions, cockle stocks declined further. No more licences were issued after 2007-08 and the beds had to be closed again in 2011.
Enforcement has always been extremely difficult. In past centuries, the Solway was infamous for the activities of pirates and smugglers and the physical features that aided those individuals—that coastline of bays and coves with few points of access to the sea from public roads and many crossing private land—also aided the illegal cocklers. Before and after the reopening of the fishery, I received reports from constituents living near the coast of possible illegal activity, including vehicles on the beach, caravans on private land that seemed to contain what might have been migrant workers and boats being launched from private access points. Although those reports were passed to the police and the SSMA, it was very difficult to follow them up.
Of course, such activity is not only illegal but potentially extremely dangerous. The incoming tide in the Solway is famously known as being faster than a galloping horse—in other words, more than 25 to 30mph. It is certainly faster than a person can run and faster than a vehicle can drive in soft sand, with the result that those who are exposed to illegal cockling are also in great danger of losing their lives. Indeed, we remember the events in Morecambe Bay in 2004, when 23 people lost their lives in a gang incident. The same thing could easily happen on the Solway.
At stage 2 we passed amendments to allow the courts to consider circumstantial evidence pointing to illegal activity—
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick)
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-06544, in the name of Paul Wheelhouse, on the Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Bill. Before I invite ...
The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment (Richard Lochhead)
SNP
I had thought that more members would have hung about for the highlights.For the purposes of rule 9.11 of the standing orders, I advise Parliament that Her M...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I advise members that we are quite tight for time. I call Paul Wheelhouse to speak to and move the motion. Minister, you have nine minutes.16:34
The Minister for Environment and Climate Change (Paul Wheelhouse)
SNP
I am pleased to open this stage 3 debate on the Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Bill. At the outset, my thanks go to the Rural Affairs, Climate Change a...
Alex Fergusson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)
Con
Surely not.
Paul Wheelhouse
SNP
That is very kind of you, Mr Fergusson.I am sure that every member in the chamber will agree that Scotland is fortunate in having a thriving aquaculture indu...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I need you to bring your remarks to a close.
Paul Wheelhouse
SNP
I apologise, Presiding Officer.Effective monitoring and enforcement of marine and fishing laws is vital if we are to protect Scotland’s valuable marine areas...
Claudia Beamish (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Scottish Labour recognises the significance and importance of the Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Bill, and of regulation and the wild fisheries review,...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I must ask you to bring your remarks to a close.
Claudia Beamish
Lab
I will do so, Presiding Officer. The building of good relationships is perhaps more important than anything else, and it is an absolute imperative for the fu...
Alex Fergusson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)
Con
The passage of the Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Bill has been a long and arduous process, and I begin my speech at stage 3 in the same way that I beg...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
We now move to a very short open debate. I am afraid that, in order to be able to call all members, I cannot give you any more than three minutes. If you cou...
Angus MacDonald (Falkirk East) (SNP)
SNP
As a relatively new member of the Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee, I am pleased to have been able to take part in scrutiny of the bil...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
You must bring your remarks to a close, please.
Angus MacDonald
SNP
Thank you, Presiding Officer.We should never lose sight of the fact that whether we are talking about farmed or wild salmon, this is a good news story for Sc...
Elaine Murray (Dumfriesshire) (Lab)
Lab
I have not been involved in the bill’s passage but, although I recognise the concerns that members have expressed, I want to use the very short time that I h...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
You must bring your remarks to a close, please.
Elaine Murray
Lab
Moreover, police now have powers of access to private land and can enforce that right in order to investigate the reports of possible illegal activity that I...
Jim Hume (South Scotland) (LD)
LD
To claim that the bill’s progress through its committee stages was without controversy would be pushing it, to say the least. I believe that it marks the fir...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
No, you do not. You need to bring your remarks to a close as quickly as possible.
Jim Hume
LD
I am glad that we have produced a bill that provides for training requirements on equipment. In anticipation of the bill’s being passed at decision time, I c...
Rob Gibson (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP)
SNP
I am the convener of the Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee, which has had long oversight of the bill and welcomes its progress.I was pl...
Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I refer members to my entry in the register of members’ interests, in relation to fisheries.There is widespread recognition of the importance of aquaculture ...
Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
The bill has been an attempt to address some of the issues surrounding wild fisheries and the aquaculture sector. Although the debate is an opportunity to re...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I call Paul Wheelhouse to wind up the debate. You have five minutes, minister.17:11
Paul Wheelhouse
SNP
I will try my best, Presiding Officer.I thank all members for their contributions to today’s debate. One thing that I did not mention earlier but which I wou...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I thank all members for their co-operation in what was a very short space of time.