Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-26511.

The Scottish Executive is aware of cetacean bycatch in the offshore sea bass fishery off South West England and has been working closely with colleagues in the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to mitigate this. In 2000, the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) recorded a bycatch of 15 dolphins over nine days at sea. The Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) of St Andrews University was engaged to monitor the spring 2001 fishery, specifically in relation to cetacean bycatch, to check the CEFAS findings and, if necessary, develop effective mitigation measures. On that occasion monitoring a different Scottish pair trawl recorded the bycatch of 52 dolphins in 12 hauls out of a total of 116 hauls over 71 days at sea. It had been agreed with the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen's Association and the skippers that, if dolphins were encountered, acoustic deterrents called "pingers" would be fitted to the mouth of the nets. This was done, but without any noticeable reduction in bycatch. Last spring SMRU was engaged to trial new mitigation measures involving the use of separator grids and an escape hatch for cetaceans. The new gear was tested on a Scottish pair trawl, again with the active participation of the Scottish Pelagic Fishermen's association and the skippers, but no cases of dolphin bycatch were recorded. The trial is to resume during the next fishery season, in spring 2003.SMRU has also monitored other pelagic fisheries in this area, but has recorded no cases of dolphin bycatch.If the new mitigation measures prove successful, we and DEFRA will consider their wider introduction, as part of a joint UK Small Cetacean Bycatch Reduction Strategy to address bycatch issues across all UK fisheries. The majority of vessels involved in this particular fishery, however, are French. It is therefore important that any mitigation measures are implemented at EU level also and to this end the UK Government has already made contact with the European Commissioner.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-26511.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-26511.

I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-26511.

The Executive has prepared a report describing the work in Scotland on sustainable development since the Rio Summit in 1992 and the main points made in the stakeholder consultation undertaken last year. I have sent the report to the UK Government. Copies are being made available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 22146) and it will be posted on the Executive's website.

We intend to set additional targets for some of the indicators when appropriate in the light of further policy and scientific work. For others it will be more appropriate to monitor the trend than to set a target.

We have received submissions from two MSPs and one MP, the Institute of Field Archaeologists, the Council for Scottish Archaeology and from one local museum trust about the provisions of the European Convention on the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage, generally known as the Valletta Convention. My staff in Historic Scotland have been involved in discussions with colleagues in England, Wales and Northern Ireland about the implementation of the Convention.

Whilst I referred to the major significance of The Nature of Scotland in my speech, I did not give any specific commitments on the introduction or scheduling of legislation.It remains our firm intention to bring forward legislative proposals at an early opportunity. In particular, we will publish a draft nature conservation bill, based on the proposals contained in the policy statement The Nature of Scotland, as soon as is practicably possible. It will be for my ministerial colleagues, Allan Wilson and Ross Finnie, and for the First Minister, to make any public announcements on progress with the implementation of our proposals.

Appropriate safeguards are in place to protect the environment, but we are continually refining these in the light of experience and scientific advice, to ensure that processes that have a disproportionate impact on the environment do not proceed.Research is going on to examine Scottish waters to assess contribution of various activities, including fish farming, to eutrophication. A review of possible links between aquaculture, eutrophication and shellfish poisoning events is also under way. We are scoping the further necessary research required to establish the carrying capacity of coastal waters. The Area Management Agreement process is helping to increase trust between fish farmers and wild fishery interests, to work together and resolve local problems, especially sea lice. Escapes must be prevented, and site specific containment and contingency plans are now required in support of all fish farm applications. Legislation to require reporting of escapes was laid before Parliament on 19 April 2002.