Hansard

The next question is, that motion S4M-15031, in the name of Richard Lochhead, on sea fisheries and end-year negotiations, as amended, be agreed to.

Motion, as amended, agreed to,

That the Parliament notes the forthcoming annual fishing negotiations in Brussels and the ongoing negotiations with Norway on shared stocks; believes that sustainable development should be at the heart of all marine and fisheries policies; further believes that sea fisheries must be managed holistically with a sustainable ecosystem approach that takes into account the marine biodiversity and climate change challenges that Scotland faces to ensure healthy Scottish waters; supports the research and monitoring work of Marine Scotland and its partners, including the fishing industry, in developing scientific evidence for the implementation of the discard ban and for sustainable and profitable fisheries in the future; calls on the Scottish Government to ensure that this work is adequately funded; notes that the new European Maritime Fisheries Fund is designed to help fishermen in any transition period, support coastal communities in diversifying their economies and finance new coastal projects and encourages the widest possible consultation on its guidelines; welcomes the recent scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), which proposes increases to many of Scotland’s key stocks, including North Sea cod, which is at its highest level in a decade; notes that 2016 will see the commencement of the discard ban for whitefish fisheries and that the outcome of the negotiations will be pivotal in supporting the fleet’s implementation, and supports the Scottish Government in its efforts to achieve the best possible outcome for Scotland’s fishermen, coastal communities and wider seafood sectors.