Hansard

I thank all members for their contribution to the debate on the bill. There have been many positive contributions; we have heard members speak of their pride on this momentous day and describe the bill as a "landmark" and a "watershed". Those are highly appropriate words to associate with the bill that I hope we will pass at decision time.

The role of the Scottish Parliament is to improve the lives of the people of Scotland and I believe that we now have a bill—Scotland's first marine bill—that will make a significant and lasting difference to the way in which we manage our spectacular seas for the people and communities of Scotland.

More than ever before, people are interested in the marine environment. Let us not forget that Scotland's seas generate more than £2.2 billion of marine-related industry—not including oil and gas—and that Scotland's seas provide around 50,000 jobs. We have two thirds of the UK's seas, a fifth of European Union waters and 100 ports. Under the waves of our seas, we have 6,500 species of plants and animals that we know we are obliged to look after.

Thankfully, we also have the breakthrough of executive devolution, which puts this Parliament in the driving seat out to 200 nautical miles for the first time and in the driving seat for planning legislation and nature conservation in all of Scotland's waters.

As members have rightly pointed out, there will be many competing demands on Scotland's seas in the 21st century. The bill is about balancing the various competing demands, because our seas can meet so many of Scotland's needs in the 21st century.

The offshore renewables sector is about to blossom, creating thousands of new jobs and helping Scotland to meet her climate change targets. Even today, I notice that Highlands and Islands Enterprise has put out a statement about the number of communities that may benefit from construction opportunities for offshore renewables. Nigg, Arnish, Machrihanish, Ardersier and Kishorn in Wester Ross have been picked out, and six locations outwith the Highlands and Islands are also set to benefit.

There is huge potential for Scotland's seas to help to meet our energy needs, tackle climate change and create thousands of new jobs at the same time. I assure Karen Gillon that we will use the renewables expertise that currently exists in Marine Scotland as we take the bill forward.

Of course, our seas also provide food for the nation. An issue that will become even more of a priority in the 21st century is where we get our food from. If we look after them, our seas can continue to provide healthy, tasty food. Indeed, I had some good Scots mackerel in the Scottish Parliament canteen today, which reminded me of how great our seas are when it comes to providing fantastic food.

In relation to tackling climate change, carbon storage is another benefit, in addition to the renewables sector, that we may be able to enjoy from our seas.

As many members have said, the people of Scotland are becoming increasingly fascinated by their marine environment. When I was in Tiree for my holidays last summer, it was spectacular seeing the marine wildlife off the shores. At one point, I watched gannets diving for fish while the basking sharks were circling and the dolphins were dancing on the horizon. That is spectacular, it is in Scottish waters and we must look after it.

As many of us know, in the waters off our constituencies around Scotland, marine wildlife tourism—[Interruption.]