Hansard

Scottish Labour recognises the significance and importance of the Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Bill, and of regulation and the wild fisheries review, to present and future employment in what are often fragile rural and coastal communities. There are jobs in wild fisheries, scientific research, aquaculture and—of course—fish processing, retailing and exporting. An excellent example of how the whole production chain can be vertically integrated is that of the co-operative Scottish Shellfish Marketing Group. It gives the customer reassurance about provenance, which is important in the wake of the horsemeat scandal, from which lessons must be learned.

The Scottish Parliament information centre tells us that Scotland is already the largest salmon producer in the European Union and the third largest in the world, after Norway and Chile. I have looked with interest at the cabinet secretary’s drive to promote exports of Scottish salmon and shellfish. Salmon is Scotland’s largest food export, accounting for a third of the value of all food exports. Scottish salmon is exported to more than 50 countries, with the EU and US markets being particularly important. As the minister and cabinet secretary will know, after agreement with the Chinese Government was reached in 2011, a new market opened up in China. Figures show that exports of salmon to the far east went up from 682 tonnes in 2010 to 8,675 tonnes in 2012.

Although there is little doubt about the highly lucrative nature of the exports for Scotland in the short-term, I ask the minister to clarify how that drive in exports can be reconciled with the Scottish Government’s commitment to sustainable seas. The cabinet secretary stated:

“The Scottish salmon industry is committed to nurturing a responsible, sustainable and environmentally aware future based on strong fishing heritage and traditions.”

As the minister has said, our clean waters are “pristine”—or, to use my word, quintessential. That drives us towards the environmental imperative. The biodiversity of our seas, sea lochs, rivers and burns is fundamental to our very future and to the future of the species and habitats for which we have responsibility.

Sustainable development is the key. I seek further assurances from the minister that, if the bill is passed today in spite of the failure of the bill’s policy memorandum to fulfil its potential in that regard, there will be a continuing assessment of sustainable development.

Scotland’s national marine plan, which has been delayed, is fundamental in underpinning the way forward. This summer’s consultations concern sustainable development not just in relation to the employment opportunities that I have highlighted, but in relation to how other industries in the marine sectors—which I do not have time to list—can fit together and be developed sustainably.

At stage 1, I stressed that:

“All potential development in our seas ... must be judged in the context of marine carrying capacity.”—[Official Report, 28 February 2013; c 17200.]

The Scottish Government must always remember that the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 gives us a legally binding obligation to enhance our seas. That sets us a responsibility to recover damaged species, as well as maintaining the status quo.

At stage 1, I highlighted the significance of climate change, so I ask the minister, in his closing speech, to give Parliament and all interested groups reassurance that the bill and the ensuing regulations will be climate change proofed, and reassurance about how that will be monitored. The review of marine protected areas in 2018 will be significant as the science develops.

The health of our rivers and burns is also in need of protection, for the same reasons as our seas are. Can the minister tell Parliament how funding will be made available in the future for the range of initiatives that are needed, such as the Dee tree-planting scheme, which the Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee visited.

On wild fisheries, I note:

“The recent increase in rod catch, coupled with the high levels of catch and release, is regarded as evidence of increases in the number of fish entering fresh waters.”

There is still a concern about spring salmon, however. As a sea trout champion, I have concerns about the decline in numbers that Marine Scotland has identified.

If we are to move forward sustainably, science is essential and must be shared. How can science be shared if it is not fully and publicly available to share among Marine Scotland, academia and the range of industries concerned? An honest and full assessment of the industry is needed if we are to achieve our shared aquaculture and shellfish targets.

Scottish Labour is disappointed and perplexed by the final position in the bill on publication of sea lice data. I note the minister’s comments, which are in some sense reassuring, but there should still be an overriding principle of transparency. Our seas are not private property. Moreover, whatever waste comes from fish farms does not stop at the barrier of the cage, any more than diffuse farm pollution stops at a fence near a burn.

The development of effective regulation accompanying the eventual act, the wild fisheries review and the work of the ministerial group on aquaculture will be the make or break of future sustainable activity. The minister’s words today are reassuring on that. Furthermore, there is agreement about the RACCE Committee’s important recommendation at stage 1 that, if there are breakdowns in relationships, a

“fully accessible and fit for purpose ... mediation service”

should be available.