Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee

Meeting date: Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Official Report 511KB pdf

Subordinate Legislation

Razor Clams (Prohibition on Fishing and Landing) (Scotland) Order 2017 (SSI 2017/419)

Item 3 is consideration of a negative instrument concerning the fishing and landing of razor clams. Rhoda Grant and I have asked the Scottish Government for further information, which has been provided and, indeed, published. Separately from that, the Scottish Government has provided further information on the related scientific trial.

No motions to annul have been received, but I believe that Mr Finnie would like to make a comment.

Yes. My position is consistent with the one that was set out by the Scottish Green Party in April this year, when we were critical of the Scottish Government’s decision to launch a trial of electrofishing for razor clams. Although we do not support the Government’s proposal, the convener is right—we can do the arithmetic and we will not take the issue further.

One of the concerns about electrofishing is that it can leave other marine life vulnerable to predators. Just as dredging causes difficulties, so does electrofishing. I am alert to the comment in the committee’s paper on the order that the measures that the Government introduced to limit unlicensed activity

“have had limited success because enforcement of the EU electrofishing ban is very difficult, as vessels need to be caught with gear deployed.”

I am grateful to have had the opportunity to put that on the record.

In the light of what John Finnie has said, I make the comment that, according to the information that the Government has provided, we are talking about a pilot project. Therefore, I make the recommendation that we do not comment on the order but, instead, write separately to the cabinet secretary to ask him to provide further information on the matter and to report back to the committee after the first year of the trial, and possibly after the second year. In that way, we will be able to work out whether the approach that is taken in the order is the right way to proceed. That is my recommendation; I hope that the committee agrees with me.

Does the committee agree not to make any recommendation on the order but to write to the cabinet secretary about it?

Members indicated agreement.