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Conservation of Salmon (Annual Close Time and Catch and Release) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2014 (SSI 2014/357)
Agenda item 2 is subordinate legislation. There are three negative Scottish statutory instruments to consider, as listed on the agenda.
SSI 2014/357 was drawn to the attention of Parliament because of some mistakes. The instrument did not comply with the 28-day rule. However, the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee has deemed the instrument to be acceptable on the ground that the Scottish Government is seeking to make corrections to satisfy that committee’s report on a previous instrument. I refer members to the paper on the regulations.
Are there any comments? If not, are we agreed to make no comment on the regulations?
Members indicated agreement.
Designation of Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (Scotland) Regulations 2014 (SSI 2014/373)
Are there any comments on the regulations?
The nitrate vulnerable zones were introduced in 2002 and I notice that, once we approve the statutory instrument, the total area that is currently covered by NVZs will decrease by 24 per cent. I remember a heated debate at our predecessor committee in 2002, in which I argued that the zones as proposed were far too big. I want to put on record how delighted I am that, some 12 years later, somebody agrees with me.
Thank you for that. There are no further comments on the regulations. Are we agreed?
Members indicated agreement.
Sea Fishing (Points for Masters of Fishing Boats) (Scotland) Regulations 2014 (SSI 2014/379)
Are there any comments on the regulations? I have some of my own.
I would like to get some detail from the Government about how the register of masters is kept and how it is made available, as well as about how people who have broken the EU fishing rules are pursued. We need to know about that—while agreeing to the regulations, which allow for the register to be updated. It would be useful to get some detail from the Government, by way of a letter, about what the provisions do. The matter is germane to our future planning of the seas and to our discussions on the national marine plan.
Are we agreed on that?
Members indicated agreement.
Do we agree to make no comments on SSI 2014/379?
Members indicated agreement.
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