Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 18 November 2025
18 Nov 2025 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Fishing Industry
As a representative of hundreds of coastal communities across the Highlands and Islands, I whole-heartedly share the Scottish Government’s condemnation of the allocation that Scotland has received through the UK fishing and coastal growth fund. The fund is meant to improve technology and equipment, both of which will be essential if we are to make fishing more sustainable and better regulated and provide certainty to fishers so that they can operate with confidence.
The fund is also meant to train the next generation of fishers and support coastal communities—two crucial goals that will stop depopulation and keep communities thriving. It is therefore insulting to my constituents that, despite accounting for almost two thirds of catches and exports, and despite holding roughly 60 per cent of UK waters, Scotland is getting less than 8 per cent of the £360 million funding.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-19739, in the name of Mairi Gougeon, on supporting Scotland’s fishing industry. I ask members who wish to...
The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands (Mairi Gougeon)
SNP
Today’s debate is an opportunity to set out Scotland’s approach to this year’s fisheries negotiations and the setting of fishing opportunities for the year a...
Douglas Ross (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
The cabinet secretary is speaking a lot about other parties’ policies on fishing. Will she confirm that it is still Scottish National Party policy to rejoin ...
Mairi Gougeon
SNP
I am sure that members across the chamber are well aware of my party’s and the Government’s position, which was set out in a series of published papers. When...
Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)
Con
Why has the Scottish Government defunded the marine directorate, which limits its ability to do the data collection that is required and prevents it from foc...
Mairi Gougeon
SNP
There are a few points there on which I have been engaging with Finlay Carson. He will be aware that there was an increase in the science budget of the marin...
Tim Eagle (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
The cabinet secretary is concluding.
Mairi Gougeon
SNP
We hope to deliver the best outcome possible for Scotland. These are uncertain times for our fishing industry and the wider seafood sector. The negotiations ...
Tim Eagle (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I thank the cabinet secretary for securing this debate on fishing. I have been asking for such a debate for quite some time; indeed, I issued a press release...
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
I start by paying tribute to our fishing industry. It is a dangerous industry that delivers us food security and economic value in Scotland. The Scottish Go...
Finlay Carson
Con
I understand how passionate Rhoda Grant is about fishing communities, but does she believe that the reduction from Scotland receiving 46 per cent of the fish...
Rhoda Grant
Lab
I am certainly not arguing that it is fair. I am arguing that the Scottish Government should have agreed a mechanism for devolving that funding—either that, ...
Tim Eagle
Con
Will the member give way?
Rhoda Grant
Lab
I need to make progress. It is not just about wind turbines. It is also about interconnectors, telecommunication cables and fish farming—and the list goes o...
Ariane Burgess (Highlands and Islands) (Green)
Green
As a representative of hundreds of coastal communities across the Highlands and Islands, I whole-heartedly share the Scottish Government’s condemnation of th...
Finlay Carson
Con
Is it correct that, given some of the amendments to the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill that the Green Party has planned to lodge, Scotland will not need...
Ariane Burgess
Green
I do not think that that is the topic of the debate. To me, the UK settlement says two things. First, it says that the UK Government would rather support in...
Tim Eagle
Con
Will the member give way?
Douglas Lumsden (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
Will the member give way?
Ariane Burgess
Green
I need to make progress. The Scottish Greens’ amendment to the Scottish Government’s motion seeks to reflect another aspect of fairness that must be address...
Tim Eagle
Con
Will the member take an intervention?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
The member is concluding.
Ariane Burgess
Green
—will be on local fishing. I move amendment S6M-19739.1, to insert after “economy”: “further recognises the central role that Scotland’s low-impact fishing...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I call Beatrice Wishart to speak to and move amendment S6M-19739.4. 15:57
Beatrice Wishart (Shetland Islands) (LD)
LD
I am pleased that the Scottish Government has brought a fishing debate to the chamber. This follows my member’s business debate in February, which was the fi...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
We move to the open debate. I advise members that there is no time in hand, Any interventions should therefore be absorbed within a member’s agreed speaking ...
Alasdair Allan (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP)
SNP
My Western Isles constituency can boast a long and proud fishing heritage. If a fishing vessel has an SY or CY registration, she is likely to be one of the s...
Rhoda Grant
Lab
Would it not have been wiser for the Scottish Government to negotiate a formula for devolving that money before it asked for it to be devolved, rather than e...
Alasdair Allan
SNP
I thank the member for intervening, because it gives me the opportunity to say this. I am surprised by the argument that Labour makes in its amendment, and I...