Committee
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee 17 March 2026 [Draft]
17 Mar 2026 · S6 · Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Item of business
Subordinate Legislation
Marine Licensing (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Order 2026 [Draft]
Again, this SSI on marine licensing does not apply to and is not relevant to fisheries. It is important to note that, where exemptions exist for key sectors, it is only because those sectors are already governed by other pieces of legislation. For fisheries, we provide licences for the vessels themselves, rather than in relation to the marine environment. There are other areas that are governed by other pieces of legislation.Again, part of the SSI is about ensuring that we have a framework to enable us to better regulate or screen the activity that could be taking place in the high seas. We do not have a full picture of the extent to which such activity is taking place at the moment. However, a number of nations have ratified the agreement, and the conference of parties that will take place later this year will give us an opportunity to have more of a discussion about capturing such activity so that we can see exactly what we are talking about. My officials might have more information to add on that.09:15
In the same item of business
09:06
The Convener
Con
Item 2 is consideration of a draft statutory instrument, on which the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee has made no comment. I welcome Mairi Gougeon,...
The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands (Mairi Gougeon)
SNP
I would, convener. Good morning to the committee.The Scottish Government is committed to meeting the obligations under the biodiversity beyond national juris...
The Convener
Con
I will ask a very simple question. The instrument talks about “Scottish persons” and the responsibilities of the Scottish Government. What does it mean for p...
Mairi Gougeon
SNP
It is important to point out that we still have to get to grips with what the activity in the high seas might look like. The SSI is about putting in place a ...
The Convener
Con
My concern, since we first heard about the instrument, has been that, in order to make it work, we will have to enforce it. That will mean taking responsibil...
Mairi Gougeon
SNP
If they were Scottish persons and we were providing the marine licence for them in that area, it would fall to us, as the licensing authority, to monitor tha...
The Convener
Con
I was looking for a simple answer, and I think that the answer that you have given me is yes.
Mairi Gougeon
SNP
Yes, it is.
The Convener
Con
Thank you.
Mairi Gougeon
SNP
I got there in the end.
Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green)
Green
Looking at the detail, I can see that the instrument seems to be about controlling the dumping of stuff—the deposit of substances and objects, the scuttling ...
Mairi Gougeon
SNP
Again, this SSI on marine licensing does not apply to and is not relevant to fisheries. It is important to note that, where exemptions exist for key sectors,...
Dr Joanna Dingwall (Scottish Government)
As the cabinet secretary has outlined, between Scottish ministers’ licensing and the marine management organisation, we already have a robust marine licensin...
Mark Ruskell
Green
Would the existing licensing regime cover the pelagic sector in international waters, or is that a gap?
Mairi Gougeon
SNP
It is not a gap, because the fishing activity is already governed by other licences and regulations.
Mark Ruskell
Green
Is that regardless of where the fishing takes place?
Mairi Gougeon
SNP
Regardless of where the fishing takes place.
Mark Ruskell
Green
Okay, so that is not a gap.
Douglas Lumsden (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
Cabinet secretary, you said that fisheries are not part of the SSI. I am thinking about whether some of the licensing activities would have any impact on fis...
Mairi Gougeon
SNP
No, and the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation did not raise any issues with us, and I think that it was approached for comment about the SSI.
Douglas Lumsden
Con
So, it was asked.
Mairi Gougeon
SNP
Yes, but it had no further comments to make about it.
Douglas Lumsden
Con
Thank you.
The Convener
Con
As there are no more questions, we will move on to agenda item 3, which is a debate on motion S6M-20874.There are no contributions from members. Cabinet secr...
Mairi Gougeon
SNP
I have no further comments.Motion moved,That the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee recommends that the Marine Licensing (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Sco...
The Convener
Con
Do committee members agree to delegate authority to me, as convener, to approve a draft of the report for publication?Members indicated agreement.
The Convener
Con
Before you disappear, cabinet secretary, you have engaged with the committee quite heavily over the past few years on land reform and various other matters. ...
Mairi Gougeon
SNP
That is not strictly true, but I will reciprocate. Thank you, convener, and the rest of the committee. I have predominantly appeared in front of the Rural Af...
The Convener
Con
Thank you, cabinet secretary. As you have had the last word, we will briefly suspend the meeting before we move on to the next item of business.09:18Meeting ...