Committee
Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee 16 March 2021
16 Mar 2021 · S5 · Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee
Item of business
Subordinate Legislation
Red Rocks and Longay Urgent Marine Conservation Order 2021 (SSI 2021/131)
It is important that we appreciate how important it is to protect the flapper skate, which the Scottish Government has identified as a priority feature. However, I have concerns about the lack of information regarding the consequences of a complete ban on any fishing and the impacts of the displacement of hand diving, as well as the use of mobile and fixed gear. It would be useful to have more information on the potential impacts on the sustainability of some of the fisheries and on the steps that have been taken to address the potential loss of income for fishermen, who will not be able to fish in those areas at all. I stress the overriding importance of protecting the species, but more information would have been useful and we should request it, particularly because the order will result in compete closure of the fisheries for at least a year.
In the same item of business
The Convener
SNP
Item 4 is consideration of a Scottish statutory instrument that the Scottish Government laid on an urgent basis to protect a recently discovered nursery site...
Claudia Beamish
Lab
It is fundamentally important to protect such sites in our marine environment in the context of sustainable development. I am relieved that the SSI has been ...
Angus MacDonald (Falkirk East) (SNP)
SNP
Following on from Claudia Beamish’s comments, I agree that there seems to be an issue on that point. We would not be aware of the situation at Red Rocks and ...
Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)
Con
It is important that we appreciate how important it is to protect the flapper skate, which the Scottish Government has identified as a priority feature. Howe...
Mark Ruskell
Green
It is right that NatureScot’s initial advice took a precautionary approach and called for the closure of a wide area with a buffer zone. It takes only one mi...
The Convener
SNP
Thank you. There is also the issue that NatureScot recommended that a wider area be protected but the Government has decided to go with the evidence of where...
Claudia Beamish
Lab
I echo your words, convener, and I would like to thank you heartily for convening the committee, managing us all and helping us to be, whenever we could be, ...
The Convener
SNP
That is really appreciated. Thank you. I should mention that the other person who is involved very closely with our committee, the Cabinet Secretary for Envi...