- Asked by: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 30 November 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 14 December 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on how long it takes for static nets to degrade in the marine environment until they are no longer considered to be a danger to marine wildlife.
Answer
We are aware that a number of European Institutes have carried out research into lost fishing gear, with the UK being involved in the studies.
The effective fishing area of nets shows an early and rapid drop as the nets collapse but this is fishery- and site-specific, taking between six weeks and two years.
In inshore fisheries nets quickly diminish due to environmental conditions such as wave action and tidal scouring. In deeper water, greater than 400m, nets degrade at a much slower rate.
- Asked by: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 30 November 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 14 December 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether an assessment has been carried out under section 6(3) of the EU habitats directive as to whether the Firth of Lorne fishery can be reopened and, if so, what species and what net usage have been included in this assessment.
Answer
The Firth of Lorn Special Area of Conservation is currently closed to scallop dredging while research is carried out into the possible impact of scallop dredging on the reefs for which the site was designated. There are presently no plans to reopen the site to scallop dredging until the research is complete.
- Asked by: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 30 November 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 14 December 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the decision to lift the prohibition on the use of static nets in the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas area IVa amounts to reopening the static net fishery and, if so, whether a decision to reopen the fishery would constitute a plan or project within the meaning of Article 6 (3) of the EU habitats directive.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-29452 on 14 December 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
- Asked by: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 30 November 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 14 December 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers Palinurus to be a typical species that inhabits reefs; if not, of what habitat it considers Palinurus to be a typical species, and what advice Scottish Natural Heritage has given on the subject.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-29475 on 14 December 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
- Asked by: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 30 November 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 14 December 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what means of monitoring bycatch were used from 1984 to 2009.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-29456 on 9 December 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
- Asked by: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 30 November 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 14 December 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding will be made available to monitor the effects of static nets in the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas area IVa if the ban on them is lifted.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-29452 on 14 December 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
- Asked by: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 30 November 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 14 December 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the judgment in the European Court of Justice Waddenzee case, whether the static net fishery in special areas of conservation is a plan or project within the meaning of Article 6 (3) of the EU habitats directive.
Answer
The Scottish Government is of the view that static net fishing in a Special Area of Conservation is not a plan or project as referred to in Article 6(3) of the EC Habitats Directive.
- Asked by: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 30 November 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 14 December 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of fishing boats using static nets was visited by independent observers from 1984 to 2009.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-29456 on 9 December 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
- Asked by: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 30 November 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 14 December 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements will be made for monitoring incidental capture and killing of animals listed in Annex IV(a) of the EU habitats directive if the ban on static nets in the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas area IVa is lifted.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-29452 on 14 December 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
- Asked by: Robin Harper, MSP for Lothians, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 30 November 2009
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 14 December 2009
To ask the Scottish Executive how many boats in the set net fishery were (a) within the six mile limit, (b) from six to 12 miles and (c) offshore of the 12-mile limit in each year from 1984 to 2009; what type of nets were used; how many kilometres of net were set, and what the main target species were in each area.
Answer
Information on length of net deployed is insufficiently complete for reliable information to be provided on how many kilometres of net were set. The other data requested is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 49869).
