Official Report 176KB pdf
Item 5 is an EU communication on management and nature conservation in the marine environment. The clerks and I have had a discussion about it. Given that the document is before us, would anyone like to comment on it?
Given that there are no firm proposals, we cannot do anything other than note the document. The only thing I would mention is that point 2 of the Scottish Executive's covering note on the document says that the Commission feels that more work can be done on further controls on fishing effort. I hope that the emphasis would be on co-operation among environmental interests, the fishing industry and scientists, as opposed to constant reference to further controls.
Is there any scope for inviting representatives of the fishing industry to send us their views?
That would be useful.
Are there any comments on any other part of the document? We will ask the fishermen to copy us in on any comments that they wish to make on the matter. If that is approved, we will take that opportunity.
The only problem with getting the views of the fishing industry is that the committee has to submit its views by 18 November.
It seems unlikely that we will have any comments that we wish to be noted. The document merely raises issues that I suspect might be raised in future and ones about which we should keep ourselves informed. Would it therefore be appropriate to note the document and pass on?
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