Question reference: S6W-26957
- Asked by: Monica Lennon, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 22 April 2024
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Current status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 2 May 2024
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to conduct an assessment of the potential impact of its ban on industrial sandeel fishing in Scottish waters on puffin populations, and, if so, when it will report any findings resulting from such an assessment to Parliament.
Answer
Throughout the public consultation and in reaching the decision to close fishing for sandeel in all Scottish waters, the Scottish Government recognised the importance of potential wider environmental and ecosystem benefits, which included potential benefits to sandeel, seabirds, marine mammals, and other fish species.
There are currently no plans to conduct an assessment of the potential impact of the closure of fishing for sandeel in Scottish waters on seabird populations, including Atlantic puffin, as these measures only came into force on 26 March 2024. However, there are several monitoring and research programmes in place that can add to the evidence base in relation to potential impacts of closing fishing for sandeel in Scottish waters, and which can be drawn on should such an assessment be undertaken in the future.