Committee
Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee 26 October 2022
26 Oct 2022 · S6 · Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Item of business
Inshore Fisheries
Good morning. I am Karen Adam, MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast.
In the same item of business
The Convener (Finlay Carson)
Con
Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the 27th meeting in 2022 of the Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee. Before we begin, I ask all m...
Lucy Kay (Coastal Communities Network)
I am Lucy Kay. I am the marine protected area project officer with the Community of Arran Seabed Trust, and I am here representing the Coastal Communities Ne...
Beatrice Wishart (Shetland Islands) (LD)
LD
I am Beatrice Wishart, MSP for the Shetland Islands and the deputy convener of the committee.
Sheila Keith (Shetland Fishermen’s Association)
Good morning. I am Sheila Keith from the Shetland Fishermen’s Association.
Jim Fairlie (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP)
SNP
Good morning. I am Jim Fairlie, MSP for Perthshire South and Kinross-shire.
Charles Millar (Sustainable Inshore Fisheries Trust)
Good morning. I am Charles Millar, executive director of the Sustainable Inshore Fisheries Trust.
Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con)
Con
Good morning. I am Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire.
Jenni Minto (Argyll and Bute) (SNP)
SNP
Good morning. I am Jenni Minto, MSP for Argyll and Bute.
Bally Philp (Scottish Creel Fishermen’s Federation)
Good morning. I am Alistair—Bally—Philp from the Scottish Creel Fishermen’s Federation.
Hannah Fennell (Scottish Fishermen’s Federation)
Good morning. I am Hannah Fennell, head of Orkney Fisheries Association and vice-president of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation.
Phil Taylor (Open Seas Trust)
Good morning. I am Phil Taylor from the Open Seas Trust.
Mercedes Villalba (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Good morning. I am Mercedes Villalba and I represent the North East Scotland region.
Elaine Whyte (Communities Inshore Fisheries Alliance)
Good morning. I am Elaine Whyte. I work with the Clyde Fishermen’s Association and I am here representing the Communities Inshore Fisheries Alliance.
Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)
SNP
Good morning. I am Karen Adam, MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast.
Simon MacDonald (West Coast Inshore Fisheries Group)
Good morning. I am Simon MacDonald, chairman of the West Coast Regional Inshore Fisheries Group.
Alasdair Allan (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP)
SNP
I am Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar.
Calum Duncan (Marine Conservation Society)
Good morning. I am Calum Duncan, head of conservation Scotland for the Marine Conservation Society.
Ariane Burgess (Highlands and Islands) (Green)
Green
Good morning. I am Ariane Burgess, MSP for the Highlands and Islands region.
The Convener
Con
You are all most welcome. We will get straight into the discussion. For our first theme, we will explore fishing industry pressures. I ask Alasdair Allan to ...
Alasdair Allan
SNP
I hesitate to list the pressures that the fishing industry might feel under. Obviously, some pressures are the result of deliberate policy around Brexit, but...
The Convener
Con
Before anyone answers, I give my sincere apologies to Fiona Read—despite the fact that I can see you right in front of me, I failed to bring you in. Would yo...
Dr Fiona Read (Whale and Dolphin Conservation)
No worries. I am Fiona Read from Whale and Dolphin Conservation.
The Convener
Con
Thank you. Would anybody like to kick off on Alasdair Allan’s question?
Sheila Keith
In the absence of anybody else putting their hand up, I will come in. Fisheries are facing increased pressures in many areas. The list is very lengthy. Press...
The Convener
Con
We will move on to the science theme a little bit later.
Simon MacDonald
I see two major factors affecting the fishing industry just now. The number 1 factor is probably spatial squeeze, but almost equal to that is the visa situat...
Elaine Whyte
The main issue facing fishing, particularly inshore fishing, relates to nuance and a lack of understanding. I saw a campaign the other week that said that we...
Hannah Fennell
Elaine Whyte is right. Inshore fisheries face a lot of issues, including economic issues, social issues and issues with our management. A lot of the issues t...
Rachael Hamilton
Con
I have a supplementary question on Simon MacDonald’s point about spatial planning. The briefing says that a report stated that, by 2050, the pressures could ...
Simon MacDonald
It is very important that the fishing industry is brought in as a statutory consultee on the applications for renewable energy projects. As I said earlier, t...