Committee
Environment and Rural Development Committee, 09 Jan 2007
09 Jan 2007 · S2 · Environment and Rural Development Committee
Item of business
Marine Environment Inquiry
Good afternoon. I welcome members of the committee, one visiting member, members of the press and the many members of the public who are with us this afternoon. Our visitors have had places carefully allocated to them around the table.This is the first oral evidence session of the committee's inquiry into the marine environment. We are using a round-table format to start our inquiry, rather than splitting the witnesses up into different panels, although we will have panels later. Our aim is to get a good introduction to the inquiry by getting a range of key interests round the table at the start to explore some of the main themes relating to the marine environment. We would like to concentrate on the key features of the Scottish marine environment and on the pressures on and challenges to it, and then to think about the current limits or barriers to managing it effectively.I plan to cut the discussion into two halves—we will have a tea break at around 3.30, after which we will come back for a final discussion. I aim to conclude at 5 o'clock. If we get through the meeting faster than that, that will be fine. I understand that one of our witnesses has to leave before that, which is also fine. If you just slip away quietly, that will be okay. Our aim is to have a discussion, not a question-and-answer session—we want to discuss issues around the table. Colleagues, members and witnesses may wish to ask questions of one another or of the whole meeting, or to make general contributions rather than just to ask questions. It is up to you. People should, however, speak one at a time through me, for obvious reasons. If you want your words to be recorded in the Official Report, to help our scribes, participants must speak one at a time. I shall say people's names before I introduce them, partly to help our broadcasting staff, who will ensure that microphones are turned on, and so that everyone's comments can be recorded properly for the Official Report. Those are the ground rules. I would now like to go round the table and invite members and witnesses to introduce themselves in turn. Members should say which party and which area they represent, and witnesses should name their organisation and state what role they play in it, so that we all know who everyone is. A couple of people are unable to come today. Roddy McColl was due to give evidence on behalf of the Fishermen's Association Limited, but has sent his apologies because he has the flu. However, colleagues have a copy of his written evidence. We do not have Richard Yemm from Scottish Renewables with us, but his colleague Max Carcas is here. Apart from that, the names on my list should be the same as the names round the table. I am the committee convener, Sarah Boyack, from the Labour Party, and I represent Edinburgh Central. I turn to my deputy convener.
In the same item of business
The Convener (Sarah Boyack):
Lab
Good afternoon. I welcome members of the committee, one visiting member, members of the press and the many members of the public who are with us this afterno...
Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green):
Green
I am a Green MSP for the Highlands and Islands.
Richard Fairbairns (Sea Life Surveys and Wild Scotland):
I am wearing two hats this afternoon, just to confuse everybody. Primarily, I am a boat operator for Sea Life Surveys off the west coast of Scotland but I am...
Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab):
Lab
I am the Labour MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston.
Bertie Armstrong (Scottish Fishermen's Federation):
I am the chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation, which is the trade association that looks after the catching sector.
Mr Ted Brocklebank (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con):
Con
I am the Conservative MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife.
Dominic Counsell (Scottish National Heritage):
I am a national strategy manager for Scottish Natural Heritage.
Professor Graham Shimmield (Scottish Association for Marine Science):
I am the director of the Scottish Association for Marine Science at Dunstaffnage.
Mr Alasdair Morrison (Western Isles) (Lab):
Lab
I am the Labour MSP for the Western Isles.
Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green):
Green
I am the Green party MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife.
Michael Scott (Marine Biodiversity Working Group):
I chair the marine biodiversity working group.
Nigel Mills (British Ports Association):
I am the director of harbours for Orkney Islands Council and I am here to represent the British Ports Association.
Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP):
SNP
I am a Scottish National Party MSP for the Highlands and Islands.
Ben Hadfield (Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation):
I represent the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation and I am also employed by Marine Harvest as its environmental and technical manager.
Nora Radcliffe (Gordon) (LD):
LD
I am the Liberal Democrat MSP for Gordon.
David Wilkie (British Marine Federation Scotland):
I am the Scottish president of the British Marine Federation, which represents marine leisure businesses. I run a boat yard and marina in Argyll.
Professor William Ritchie (Aberdeen Institute for Coastal Science and Management):
I am a professor at the University of Aberdeen and the director of the Aberdeen institute for coastal science and management.
Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP):
SNP
I am the SNP member for Moray.
Lloyd Austin (Scottish Environment LINK):
I represent Scottish Environment LINK's marine taskforce.
Max Carcas (Scottish Renewables Forum):
I am the business development director for Ocean Power Delivery and I represent the Scottish Renewables Forum.
The Convener:
Lab
During the first part of the meeting, I propose that we focus on the key issues, pressures and challenges in respect of the marine environment. Many of those...
Bertie Armstrong:
I have what I hope is a strong message from the Scottish fishing industry. On the first focus point of the inquiry, which is use, I should say that fishing i...
Mr Brocklebank:
Con
I am interested in what Bertie Armstrong has said and can certainly agree with some of his comments. However, I seek his thoughts and those of whoever produc...
The Convener:
Lab
Although the question has been put to two witnesses, I ask Bertie Armstrong to be quite brief, given that he kicked off our discussion of the topic. He can a...
Bertie Armstrong:
We can draw a straight parallel with arable farming. Dragging a plough across a sensitive habitat of flora will wreck the flora. Dragging a trawl across a se...
The Convener:
Lab
Graham Shimmield provided us with the Scottish Association for Marine Science's submission. Does he want to respond?
Professor Shimmield:
Our submission quotes a scientific paper by Mike Kaiser of the University of Bangor in North Wales, which reviewed the worldwide impact of bottom-fishing—I m...
Mr Brocklebank:
Con
I want to mention another subject that brings the conservationists and the fishermen into conflict from time to time, and on which we have had reports from v...
The Convener:
Lab
I invite Graham Shimmield to respond to that, before we hear from Richard Lochhead.
Professor Shimmield:
I believe that that is the case. Unfortunately, one body that is not represented here is the sea mammal research unit that is based at the University of St A...