Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government Offshore Wind Hub in Aberdeen/the North East comprises a multi-disciplinary team including expertise in consenting, planning and offshore wind development. The aim is for the hub to provide a single Scottish Government front-door for developers who are bringing forward applications for offshore wind development as well as associated onshore infrastructure and supply chain opportunities.

Work is progressing on hub activities related to engagement with offshore wind farm developers and wider stakeholders on consenting and planning, including providing guidance and seeking feedback on our processes.

The Scottish Government recognises the value of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) water scarcity reporting to individuals and businesses. Weekly reports from May to September deliver timely information during the highest-risk period.

SEPA also collect data throughout the year and produce seasonal reports in autumn and winter which summarise rainfall patterns and water resource conditions providing early insight and preparation ahead of the spring and summer. SEPA’s autumn water situation report 2025 report was published in December 2025 and is publicly available on SEPA’s website. A winter situation report will follow in March 2026.

The Scottish Government has long committed to increasing the proportion of Scotland's key fish stocks landed into Scotland to strengthen economic benefits for coastal communities and safeguard processing capacity. As a result of processor calls (following the publication of pelagic TAC advice for 2026) for support in light of exceptional quota cuts for mackerel and herring in 2026, the Scottish Government engaged in a process to evaluate if action was in the public interest.

Marine Directorate held targeted discussions with processors, individual catching businesses, port authorities and representative bodies and carried out analysis of landings and socio-economic evidence to understand impacts and options. A series of statutory impact assessments were produced, including a Business Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA), which can be found here:

https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806436347 - BRIA

https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806436330 - Island Communities Impact Assessment (ICIA)

https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806436323 - Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA)

https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806436316 - Consultation Outcome Document

The (BRIA) sets out that Scottish Government intervention is being introduced to increase the proportion of mackerel and herring landed into Scotland during 2026. Without action, landings into Scotland will decrease significantly (a drop of around 60% for mackerel compared to 2024 landings is estimated), undermining local economies, reducing employment, increasing market volatility, and weakening investment in processing and port infrastructure.

The significant cuts in quota will have an impact across the supply chain, including the 21 vessel pelagic trawl fleet. Changes to economic link conditions will have no direct impact on the smaller (handline) pelagic vessels, with vessels under 10 metres in length exempt from these provisions.

This intervention is designed to be proportionate, targeted, and consistent with the Scottish Government’s Better Regulation principles. The policy will be kept under review and engagement maintained with pelagic industry sectors.

Following international negotiations the UK, with relevant Coastal states, agreed on 16 December to significant 2026 quota reductions for key pelagic species (a 48% reduction in the North East Atlantic mackerel Total Allowable Catch (TAC) and a 22% reduction for herring).

Parliament was informed on 18 December of emergency measures for 2026, via a revision of economic link fishing licence conditions. This was the earliest opportunity to do so prior to the festive recess.

The same day, a letter was sent to the Convener of the Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee.

Related statutory impact assessments are available:

https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806436347 - Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA)

https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806436330 - Island Communities Impact Assessment (ICIA)

https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806436323 - Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA)

https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806436316 - Consultation Outcome Document

The Scottish Government have made no payments to the Global Disinformation Index (either as a grant or for goods or services) and no contracts have been awarded to this organisation.

It is noted that we do not hold spend data for our electronic Purchasing Card (ePC) – which is used for the purchase of low-value goods and services – for the period 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2019.

A link to the ePC policy is provided below for information:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-government-electronic-purchasing-card-epc-policy-2/

The unprecedented scale of the ICES-recommended pelagic TAC reductions for 2026, means there will be impacts across the pelagic supply chain.

Both processing and catching sector views and evidence have been analysed and wider market conditions have also been considered.

In considering cumulative impacts of TAC cuts and increased landing targets, Marine Directorate held focused discussions with processors, individual catching businesses, port authorities and representative bodies and carried out analysis of landings and socio-economic evidence to fully understand impacts and options. A series of statutory impact assessments, including a Business Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) were produced. All related impact assessments are available online:

https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806436347 - BRIA

https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806436330 - Island Communities Assessment (ICIA)

https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806436323 - Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA)

https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781806436316 - Consultation Outcome Document

No meeting have been held between Scottish Ministers and Offshore Solutions Group Limited in the time period specified.

CalMac Masters are permitted to depart ahead of the advertised departure time if (a) all the necessary safety checks and procedures are complete, and (b) all passengers (who have checked in within the advertised check-in times) are onboard.

At RAI Committee, on 17 December, I answered directly that the Rural Support Plan would not be laid in Parliament or published in December 2025.

The Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2024 requires Scottish Ministers to prepare, lay and publish a Rural Support Plan and sets out requirements on the role, content, scrutiny, reporting and monitoring and evaluation of plans. Scottish Ministers are clear that we have a duty to lay a Rural Support Plan in Parliament as soon as practicable.

On 9 September, in answering S6W-39888, I set-out that it was our intent to lay and publish the Rural Support Plan in December 2025. That answer was provided in good-faith. Unfortunately the uncertainty caused by the much-delayed UK Government budget has impacted this process.

As a result of the choices made and the delays caused by the UK Government, the 2026-27 Scottish Budget process has rightly been moved into 2026. This budget process will inform the shape of the Plan and must be completed first.

Laying the first Rural Support Plan after the Scottish Budget is the right course.

Due to the complexity of this issue, NatureScot does not hold annual data on the instances of predation of livestock by white-tailed eagles. Confirming the number of white-tailed eagle predation instances on individual holdings is challenging, especially in extensive sheep systems, where often lambs go missing without trace or there is very little carcass material left for analysis.

NatureScot work closely with farmers and crofters to better understand white-tailed eagle interactions with livestock on individual holdings.

This work includes analysis of flock performance data, white-tailed eagle prey remains analysis, installation of cameras on white-tailed eagle nests and funding for measures such as enhanced shepherding, which supports additional shepherds on extensive areas to collect data on a range of variables. In 2025, the Sea Eagle Management Scheme supported 36 shepherds across 19 holdings in this work. A report of this collaborative work will be available in due course.