Committee
Environment and Rural Development Committee, 31 Jan 2007
31 Jan 2007 · S2 · Environment and Rural Development Committee
Item of business
Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2
Like Rob Gibson, I am not a fisherman. When the matter came up in our evidence-gathering session, I did not know too much about the subject and I went along with the argument that there appeared to be cruelty in using live bait, so I raised no particular objection. However, although I understand where the minister is coming from, I am not convinced—whatever our individual views on using live fish as bait—that the majority of those whom we are paid to represent want us to take action on the issue. I hold to the view that the Parliament should see fit to ban an activity only where there is overwhelming public pressure to do so. I am not convinced that that is the case on this occasion.Another reason why I am inclined to oppose the ban is that I fear that by introducing a ban we would be conceding ground to those who would like to see all recreational angling banned on the ground of cruelty. It is argued that using a live fish as bait causes it a degree of suffering, but does angling not result in a degree of suffering by its very nature? A hook in the mouth must tend to be painful, yet angling is our most popular sport. I believe that a ban would send all the wrong signals to the pike fishermen who come from far and wide to fish in our lochs and make a valuable economic contribution to our rural areas. I remind members that pike fishermen need lessons from no one on the welfare of the fish that they catch and take great pride in returning most of the fish to the water to fight another day. I understand that the fish they use for bait come almost entirely from the waters in which they are fishing, so it is not as if they are introducing other fish into those waters.In addition, it has been drawn to my attention that any ban of this kind would be almost impossible to police. I fear that this may be a ban too far, which could lead us down a dangerous road. I urge the minister not to press amendment 9 today and to consider meeting with interested MSPs to discuss the matter before stage 3.
In the same item of business
The Convener (Maureen Macmillan):
Lab
Good morning. I remind everyone to switch off their mobile phones and ensure that their Blackberrys do not interfere with the sound system. I welcome members...
Section 20 agreed to.
Section 21—Rod and line
The Convener:
Lab
Amendment 9, in the name of the minister, is grouped with amendment 9A.
The Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development (Sarah Boyack):
Lab
As colleagues will recall, section 25 contains an enabling provision that allows ministers to make subordinate legislation to"prohibit the use of specified b...
The Convener:
Lab
In the absence of Richard Lochhead, I ask Rob Gibson to move amendment 9A and speak to the other amendment in the group.
Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP):
SNP
The consultations at an earlier stage dealt with angling as a whole, so it is not surprising that 79 per cent of respondents were in favour of and 19 per cen...
Mr Ted Brocklebank (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con):
Con
Like Rob Gibson, I am not a fisherman. When the matter came up in our evidence-gathering session, I did not know too much about the subject and I went along ...
Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green):
Green
I support amendment 9, first for the reasons to do with biodiversity that the minister mentioned and, secondly, for reasons to do with animal welfare—the wel...
Nora Radcliffe (Gordon) (LD):
LD
The minister's opening statement was helpful in setting out what is proposed and why, and the genesis of the proposal. I have thought long and hard about the...
Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab):
Lab
I was going to make two of the points that Nora Radcliffe made, so I will not speak about them, other than to emphasise the point about Ted Brocklebank's com...
Sarah Boyack:
Lab
Several issues have been raised, which I will try to deal with one at a time. In opposing amendment 9, neither Rob Gibson nor Ted Brocklebank engaged on the ...
Rob Gibson:
SNP
I am well aware of the biodiversity issues. My party has supported the protection of the powan in Loch Lomond and we are concerned that, in the Highlands and...
The Convener:
Lab
The question is, that amendment 9A be agreed to. Are we agreed?
Members:
No.
The Convener:
Lab
There will be a division.
ForBrocklebank, Mr Ted (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)Gibson, Rob (Highlands and Islands) (SNP)AgainstMacmillan, Maureen (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)Morrison,...
The Convener:
Lab
The result of the division is: For 2, Against 5, Abstentions 0.
Amendment 9A disagreed to.
Amendment 9 agreed to.
Section 21, as amended, agreed to.
Sections 22 to 25 agreed to.
After section 25
The Convener:
Lab
Amendment 10, in the name of the minister, is grouped with amendments 11 to 16.
Sarah Boyack:
Lab
I will explain why we want to introduce a system of administrative penalties for certain sea fisheries offences. We wish to improve the effectiveness of sanc...
The Convener:
Lab
No member has indicated that they wish to speak. It is unnecessary for the minister to wind up, as she has given a full explanation of the amendments.
Amendment 10 agreed to.
Amendments 11 to 16 moved—Sarah Boyack—and agreed to.
Before section 26
The Convener:
Lab
Amendment 17, in the name of the deputy minister, is grouped with amendment 23.