Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 24 June 2026 [Draft]
24 Jun 2026 · S7 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Portfolio Question Time
Marine Protected Areas and Priority Marine Features (Management)
I give an absolute guarantee that there is consultation right across the sector and across all sectors. We are cognisant of the fact that this will be a very contentious issue. Some people will be very unhappy with the results either way. Therefore, we are taking our time in order to make sure that we are asking the right questions and consulting with all the people who will be involved.
I will approach this in exactly the same way as I have approached every other contentious thing that I have had to do, which is by bringing people together, working out what the issues and problems are, finding a balanced position and then getting that implemented through the consultation and the work that is ongoing just now.
In the same item of business
Gillian Mackay (Central Scotland and Lothians West) (Green)
Green
To ask the Scottish Government when it will implement management measures for inshore marine protected areas and priority marine features. (S7O-00109)
The Minister for Agriculture, Marine and the Islands (Jim Fairlie)
SNP
Bear with me, Deputy Presiding Officer. You caught me out there.
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Katy Clark)
Lab
I will give the minister a moment.
Jim Fairlie
SNP
The answer to the question that Gillian Mackay asks about marine protected areas concerns, I have to admit, a new element of my portfolio. I am working on it...
Gillian Mackay
Green
I am pleased that the minister is getting up to speed on that part of the portfolio.Scotland’s network of marine protected areas was intended to be a vital m...
Jim Fairlie
SNP
As I said, I am currently working on that consultation. The cabinet secretary has given a commitment that it will be done as soon as possible. However, a con...
Donald MacKinnon (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (Lab)
Lab
What lessons has the Scottish Government learned from the disastrous highly protected marine areas consultation in 2022-23, and what engagement has taken pla...
Jim Fairlie
SNP
I give an absolute guarantee that there is consultation right across the sector and across all sectors. We are cognisant of the fact that this will be a very...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Katy Clark)
Lab
The next questions are grouped.