Question reference: S5W-36147
- Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
- Date lodged: 11 March 2021
-
Current status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 22 March 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what meetings it had with affected commercial and industry bodies regarding the Red Rocks and Longay Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area Order 2021; what was discussed, and whether these meetings changed its proposals.
Answer
Scottish Government officials undertook a series of stakeholder engagement meetings. Although consultation is not necessary when using urgent powers within the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010, these meetings allowed local stakeholders to be involved in shaping the proposals.
Scottish Government met with representatives from the Scottish Creel Fishermen’s Federation, Scottish Fishermen’s Federation, Community Inshore Fisheries Alliance, Scottish Whitefish Producer’s Association, West Coast Regional Inshore Fisheries Group, Scottish Salmon Producer’s Organisation, Marine Conservation Society, local recreational divers, Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, Highland Council, and Ministry of Defence. Minutes from these meetings [are/will be] available online here: https://www.gov.scot/policies/marine-environment/marine-protected-areas/ .
The feedback from these stakeholders was used to inform the Scottish Ministers’ decision.