Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 03 May 2023
03 May 2023 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Highly Protected Marine Areas
As I do not have a great deal of speaking time, I will restrict my opening remarks on behalf of the Government to what I think are the key issues.
First, it is an unavoidable truth that we are in the midst of a climate and nature emergency. This Parliament recognised that when every party proceeded to pass some of the world’s most ambitious climate targets into law.
Our oceans are a vital part of the emergency response that is needed. Scotland’s marine environment stores at least 5.6 billion tonnes of CO2, but recent research shows that the oceans are reaching their capacity to help us. That is because of a number of issues, including human impact on them. If we do not protect our seas, they will not be able to protect us for much longer. Despite the considerable progress that has been made to improve the state of our oceans, the Scottish marine assessment of 2020 shows that a number of species are in decline. The most recent assessment under the UK marine strategy showed that, across the UK, 11 out of 15 indicators of good environmental status are being missed.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone)
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-08766, in the name of Rachael Hamilton, on reconsidering highly protected marine areas. I would be gratef...
Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con)
Con
Today’s debate on highly protected marine areas is a rare opportunity for the Parliament to agree on something. We should all agree on standing up for coasta...
The Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition (Màiri McAllan)
SNP
In March, Rachael Hamilton’s colleague Thérèse Coffey, the Conservative Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, called HPMAs a vital way ...
Rachael Hamilton
Con
The difference with the Scottish Government’s approach is that it is not bringing the coastal communities with it. The document is a paper exercise and an on...
The Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition (Màiri McAllan)
SNP
As I do not have a great deal of speaking time, I will restrict my opening remarks on behalf of the Government to what I think are the key issues. First, it...
Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)
Con
Could the cabinet secretary set out exactly how banning fishing will reduce greenhouse gases?
Màiri McAllan
SNP
Finlay Carson may wish to use language such as “banning fishing”, but the point is that we are in the midst of a consultation process that asks about the pri...
Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
Will the member take an intervention?
Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
Will the member take an intervention?
Màiri McAllan
SNP
I am sorry, but I do not have any more time to take interventions from the Conservatives. The meetings that we held included ones with regional inshore fish...
Brian Whittle
Con
Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention on that point?
Màiri McAllan
SNP
No—I am afraid that I do not have time. The Conservatives stood on a manifesto commitment to HPMA pilots, and the Labour Party stood on a manifesto to inclu...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Cabinet secretary, I am afraid that you are over your time, so I ask you to conclude at this point.
Màiri McAllan
SNP
I am short of time, so let me just—
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I regret that I cannot let you continue, because we are very tight for time this afternoon.
Màiri McAllan
SNP
That is a shame, Presiding Officer. I move amendment S6M-08766.3, to leave out from “the Scottish Government’s plans” to end and insert: “Scotland is in t...
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
I start by expressing our disappointment at the Scottish Government’s amendment. The tone and content do not demonstrate any understanding of the consternati...
Rachael Hamilton
Con
I believe that the only species that is really left at Broad Bay is starfish.
Rhoda Grant
Lab
That is correct. Untold damage has been caused to the fishery there. The other thing that cannot help but leave us gasping is that, under those proposals, p...
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD)
LD
It appears that, if we wait ages for a debate on HPMAs, two will come along in quick succession. I thank again all those who took part in last night’s debat...
Brian Whittle
Con
Will the member take an intervention?
Liam McArthur
LD
I do not have time, I am afraid, Mr Whittle. It has seen Government policy, developed and consulted on over years, upended and replaced by closed-door negot...
Edward Mountain (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
At the outset, I will say that I was taken aback by the call that I was on yesterday afternoon with many MSPs. On that call, we were asked for our opinions o...
Beatrice Wishart (Shetland Islands) (LD)
LD
Edward Mountain will know that the whole of Scotland’s seafood sector is united in its opposition to HPMAs. Does he agree that the proposals are about the su...
Edward Mountain
Con
Absolutely. I take this opportunity to thank Beatrice Wishart for enabling last night’s members’ business debate, which was really interesting. One thing tha...
Màiri McAllan
SNP
I agree with Edward Mountain about the importance of those communities. From the beginning, I have been clear that the measures would be developed hand in ha...
Edward Mountain
Con
Presiding Officer, I do not know whether I will get back my time for that. No, that is not what the communities see. They see a centralised Government pushi...
Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)
SNP
I have had sincere and deep ponderings over this debate today and, in fact, over the past few weeks. I have had cause to really take time to reflect. My con...
Finlay Carson
Con
Does the member agree that it is not Brexit that is hellbent on banning fishing in vast swathes of our seas, but that it is the Greens and the SNP that want ...
Karen Adam
SNP
I disagree with the member’s take on that issue. I will come to this later in my speech, but that politics, with the whole rhetoric around “banning fishing”,...