Rural Affairs and Environment Committee, 29 Oct 2008
Meeting date: Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Official Report
239KB pdf
Subordinate Legislation
Inshore Fishing (Prohibition on Fishing) (Lamlash Bay) (Scotland) Order 2008<br />(SSI 2008/317)
Item 2 is consideration of a negative instrument. The order proposes the prohibition of fishing in an area of Lamlash Bay off the coast of Arran. The area is a no-take zone; it will be the first community marine conservation area and is intended to protect and enhance biodiversity and to form part of the wider scallop enhancement measures.
We should note the work of the Community of Arran Seabed Trust, which played a huge part in securing protection for the area, and lodged a petition in the Parliament. The Public Petitions Committee, this committee and the previous Environment and Rural Development Committee have all been involved in progressing the issue. There have been a number of evidence-taking sessions on the petition and correspondence with the Government over a period of time.
The Subordinate Legislation Committee has commented on the order. An extract of its report has been circulated to everybody. No members have raised any points on the order and no motion to annul has been lodged. Do members agree to make no recommendation on the order?
Members indicated agreement.
I am in agreement, but I just want to say that the no-take zone is a thoroughly good thing that I am pleased to see happening. My former colleague Maureen Macmillan, who put a lot of effort into the issue, will also be pleased to see it happening.
Indeed.