- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 16 May 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 22 May 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the evaluations from the pilots of a "single-case flow" approach to planning and SEPA Controlled Activities Regulations (CAR) licences from the Shetland Islands Council and Highland Council areas.
Answer
The independent evaluation of the fish farm pre-application consenting pilots is in progress.
The final report had been expected in April 2025, however this timescale has been delayed to allow for the completion of the gathering and analysis of important data on the pre-application consenting pilots.
The Report is now expected to be finalised and published in the summer.
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 19 May 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 22 May 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-36305 by Mairi Gougeon on 29 April 2025, whether the post-project monitoring will be made publicly available.
Answer
With regard to the Marine Fund Scotland, publication of individual data is not standard practice, but the analysis of post project monitoring contributes, as part of a range of information, to Scotland's Fisheries Management strategy. This, in turn, informs Marine Fund Scotland assessment and will inform future funding decisions.
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 19 May 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 22 May 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-36305 by Mairi Gougeon on 29 April 2025, what progress it has made towards its aims in the Future Fisheries Management Strategy regarding fishing gear and technology, and how this progress was informed by the post-project monitoring.
Answer
Our Fisheries Management Strategy sets out actions to support the fishing fleet to modernise, and for appropriate use to be made of new and additional technology and gear innovation. As part of this the Scottish Government has delivered on our commitment to introduce remote electronic monitoring requirements for pelagic and scallop vessels, with legislation being passed in June 2024. The legislation can be found at: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2024/165/contents/made
Our commitment to improve the inshore fisheries evidence base through the use of appropriate and proportionate onboard electronic technology monitoring on under 12 metre vessels is currently being progressed.
Through our Future Catching Policy will take further action to improve selectivity by introducing additional technical measures to reduce unwanted catch and tackle discarding and bycatch of sensitive marine species, which will improve sustainability. Stakeholder engagement is ongoing to explore various selectivity proposals to deliver pragmatic solutions.
In regard to Marine Fund Scotland and post project monitoring, publication of individual data is not standard practice, but the analysis of post project monitoring contributes, as part of a range of information, to Scotland’s Fisheries Management Strategy. This published strategy, in turn, informs Marine Fund Scotland assessment and will inform future decisions.
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 May 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 22 May 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recently published Fisheries Management and Conservation Group stakeholder survey showing that 21 out of 23 participating marine stakeholders believe that FMAC is not delivering on its current aims and responsibilities, what conclusions it has drawn from the stakeholder response, and what specific changes it is planning to make to co-management arrangements to address the issues raised in the survey.
Answer
I refer the member to the answers to questions S6W-36304 on 9 April 2025 and S6W-37060 on 30 April 2025. The Scottish Government has concluded that, as the primary issue with the functioning of FMAC appears to lie with its current structure, the decision to split the FMAC group should make the group more effective and help address the issues raised within the stakeholder survey.
All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 May 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 20 May 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how it (a) monitors and (b) addresses any (i) record-keeping violations, (ii) trade violations and (iii) movement restriction breaches at salmon farms, in light of reports that no financial penalties have been imposed since 2021.
Answer
The Scottish Government’s Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI) undertakes risk based aquatic animal health surveillance where Aquaculture Production Businesses are assessed against their regulatory responsibilities with respect to aquatic animal health. This includes routine and intelligence-based inspections.
The FHI monitors international trade of live fish and shellfish using import notification systems and checks on import health certificates, ensuring imports meet the aquatic animal health requirements of the Great Britain trade unit. Where significant risk of listed disease is detected official control measures can be enforced to help reduce the risk of disease introduction and spread.
The FHI’s enforcement policy, including a range of enforcement actions, is set out in its Service Charter which is available on the Scottish Government website. The Service Charter is based upon the Scottish Government’s principles of good regulation including taking a response which is proportionate to the risk posed and the seriousness of any offence.
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 May 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Allan on 16 May 2025
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to undertake the next review of the list of species of special concern, which was adopted from the EU listing in 2020, to ensure continued protection for the environment from invasive non-native species
Answer
The Scottish retained Regulation No 1143/2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species requires that Scottish Ministers undertake a comprehensive review of the Scottish list of species of special concern before 2 August 2028 and within every six year period thereafter. The first comprehensive review of the Scottish list of species of special concern was completed in April 2022 and the next comprehensive review is due to be completed by August 2028.
Work is underway on reviewing and updating the GB and Scottish lists of species of special concern which are currently identical. While there is no confirmed timeline for the remaining stages of the listing process, this work will be completed as soon as is practicable.
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 13 May 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 16 May 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review the legal framework that currently does not classify fish escapes from salmon farms as a statutory offence.
Answer
In our response to the recent report by the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee, we committed to prioritising progress to introduce penalties for fish farm escapes in 2026-2027 and to publishing a revised Technical Standard for Scottish Finfish Aquaculture in 2027-2028.
The escape of fish from a fish farm is not a statutory offence. However, the Fish Health Inspectorate assesses whether satisfactory measures are in place on farms for the containment of fish. Where they are not, Scottish Ministers may serve an enforcement notice and failure to comply with this is an offence.
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 May 2025
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 22 May 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to improve transport infrastructure in the Highlands and Islands, particularly in response to the reported request from Highland Council for additional support to run its six ferry services.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 22 May 2025
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 May 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Allan on 13 May 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Glen Affric beaver translocation proposal having been live since 2022, and NatureScot being in receipt of the Forestry and Land Scotland licence application since January 2025, for what reason NatureScot reportedly decided to undertake further engagement on the proposal one day after the beaver kit dependency period started.
Answer
As set out in the answer to S6W-37296 on 13 May 2025, given the legitimate concerns from the local community a decision on the licence application was unable to be made ahead of the beaver kit dependency period.
This period offered an opportunity for further engagement to be undertaken to fully explore these concerns. NatureScot will publicise their decision on the licence once it has been determined.
All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 01 May 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Alasdair Allan on 13 May 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what role its ministers have in the assessment of translocation licences for (a) beavers and (b) other protected species.
Answer
As set out in Scotland’s Beaver Strategy 2022-2045 published by NatureScot. we will support the identification of opportunities to expand beaver populations, and support the expansion of beaver populations through translocations.
Section 16A of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 allows Scottish Ministers to delegate their functions in relation to licenses under section 16 of that Act to NatureScot.
The Scottish Ministers delegated their species licensing functions to NatureScot in June 2011 via written direction. Assessment of licence applications is therefore the responsibility of NatureScot. Scottish Ministers retain the power to modify or revoke a direction. As part of this delegation, NatureScot is also asked to inform Scottish Ministers of any novel or contentious issues that may arise.
