Chamber
Plenary, 20 Dec 2006
20 Dec 2006 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
I have checked that my phones are off.
I have constituents who are closely tied to the success of our distant water fishing fleet, but I also have many constituents who work onshore and are highly dependent on aquaculture. Few supermarkets do not have farmed fish on their shelves that have had value added by factories in my constituency that fit between farmer and retailer. We should not fail to understand the importance of such work to the economy of my constituency and of other parts of Scotland that also process the products of our fish farms.
I have one or two concerns about the bill, although I come at it from the outside, not having been involved in the consideration of the bill so far. When she sums up, the Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development might be able to clarify a point about the use of the Fisheries Research Services in inspections. I can see the value in avoiding setting up another agency, but I wonder there might be a conflict of interests between the FRS's research responsibilities and its enforcement responsibilities, which have a different character. However, I am sure that a separation of responsibilities within the FRS can be managed—although I would welcome the minister's comments.
I have some slight concerns about taking the strict liability route, but I understand the tension between anglers—who are interested in the preservation of the gene stock of our existing native fish—and farmers.
The committee's report on the bill refers to the code of practice. I hope that the code will be aspirational, rather than one that sets out minimum standards. However, if it is the latter, we will have to be careful about the duties that are placed on fish farms. Those duties will have to be able to be implemented in practice.
The Planning etc (Scotland) Bill will lead for the first time to a proper planning framework for fish farms. I welcome that, but I hope that the framework will be flexible and that, under planning regulations, there will be sufficient allowance for fallow periods so that areas of Scotland that are used for fish farming can recover.
I turn to angling. As a young country lad, I was a brown trout fisherman. The world was very different then: there were many more fish in our burns and they were much bigger than they are today. As a student, I also worked—
I have constituents who are closely tied to the success of our distant water fishing fleet, but I also have many constituents who work onshore and are highly dependent on aquaculture. Few supermarkets do not have farmed fish on their shelves that have had value added by factories in my constituency that fit between farmer and retailer. We should not fail to understand the importance of such work to the economy of my constituency and of other parts of Scotland that also process the products of our fish farms.
I have one or two concerns about the bill, although I come at it from the outside, not having been involved in the consideration of the bill so far. When she sums up, the Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development might be able to clarify a point about the use of the Fisheries Research Services in inspections. I can see the value in avoiding setting up another agency, but I wonder there might be a conflict of interests between the FRS's research responsibilities and its enforcement responsibilities, which have a different character. However, I am sure that a separation of responsibilities within the FRS can be managed—although I would welcome the minister's comments.
I have some slight concerns about taking the strict liability route, but I understand the tension between anglers—who are interested in the preservation of the gene stock of our existing native fish—and farmers.
The committee's report on the bill refers to the code of practice. I hope that the code will be aspirational, rather than one that sets out minimum standards. However, if it is the latter, we will have to be careful about the duties that are placed on fish farms. Those duties will have to be able to be implemented in practice.
The Planning etc (Scotland) Bill will lead for the first time to a proper planning framework for fish farms. I welcome that, but I hope that the framework will be flexible and that, under planning regulations, there will be sufficient allowance for fallow periods so that areas of Scotland that are used for fish farming can recover.
I turn to angling. As a young country lad, I was a brown trout fisherman. The world was very different then: there were many more fish in our burns and they were much bigger than they are today. As a student, I also worked—
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Trish Godman):
Lab
The next item of business is a debate on motion S2M-5224, in the name of Ross Finnie, that the Parliament agrees to the general principles of the Aquaculture...
The Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development (Rhona Brankin):
Lab
I thank all those who were involved in the preparation and scrutiny of the Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Bill. In particular, I record my gratitude to...
Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP):
SNP
I, too, welcome the committee's report and the debate, in which I speak both as the spokesperson for the Scottish National Party and as a member of the Envir...
Mr Ted Brocklebank (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con):
Con
Conservative members, too, welcome the debate and the committee's report. Although this week much attention has rightly been focused on Brussels, where minis...
Nora Radcliffe (Gordon) (LD):
LD
It is fair to say that the bill was introduced after a lot of good work had already been done to bring together the different interests of fish farming, shel...
Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab):
Lab
I speak on behalf of the Environment and Rural Development Committee, so I thank the committee clerks for all their work in helping to arrange our scrutiny o...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Lab
I remind members that mobile phones should be switched off.
Sarah Boyack:
Lab
Members have talked about how the process helped us to have a fairly consensual debate at stage 1.I will focus on parts 1 and 2 of the bill. All speakers in ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
Lab
I say again to members that someone still has their phone on. Please put it off.
Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP):
SNP
I have checked that my phones are off.I have constituents who are closely tied to the success of our distant water fishing fleet, but I also have many consti...
Mr Brocklebank:
Con
How big?
Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD):
LD
This big?
Stewart Stevenson:
SNP
Yes, I thought they were waiting for that, and very enjoyable it was too. As I was saying, I also worked for the Tay Salmon Fisheries Board.The world has cha...
Eleanor Scott (Highlands and Islands) (Green):
Green
Although the bill has some interesting content, it has not been hugely controversial, with the exception of a few sections that previous speakers have mentio...
Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab):
Lab
It gives me great satisfaction to speak in support of the Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Bill, which is the culmination of years of hard work by all th...
Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West) (Ind):
Ind
Thirty years ago, I voted in the House of Commons against the Freshwater and Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) Act 1976, which introduced protection orders. The Go...
Mr Alasdair Morrison (Western Isles) (Lab):
Lab
I welcome the opportunity to take part in this stage 1 debate on the Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Bill. During their contributions, Sarah Boyack, Mau...
Richard Lochhead:
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Mr Morrison:
Lab
I do not have enough time. It is amazing that when one mentions dreary, Mr Lochhead gets on his feet.The Prime Minister is and was interested in fish farming...
John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD):
LD
We have had a wide-ranging debate, and I am sure that there is consensus all round about what should happen to the Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Bill....
Mr Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con):
Con
This has been a good debate about a bill that I hope will prove to be a good piece of legislation. As my colleague Ted Brocklebank said, the Scottish Conserv...
Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP):
SNP
This has been an interesting debate—reasoned for the most part—in which there has been a strong degree of consensus.It is interesting to note the background ...
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
I thank the members who have spoken in today's debate. The vast majority have been thoughtful and constructive and have brought a degree of consensus to our ...
Richard Lochhead:
SNP
I take the minister back to stopping GS coming into the country in the first place. She has not addressed the widespread concern that the Scottish National P...
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
The member will be aware that the importation of live fish is regulated at European Union level, so no scope exists to do anything unilaterally. However, cur...
Dennis Canavan:
Ind
Will the minister take an intervention?
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
My time is restricted.
The Presiding Officer (Mr George Reid):
NPA
I am sorry, but the minister is in her final minute.
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
Alasdair Morrison and other members mentioned minimum import prices. It is hugely important that we have a floor price that is aimed at promoting market stab...