Question reference: S5W-35982
- Asked by: Claudia Beamish, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 11 March 2021
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Current status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 22 March 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers the resumption of trawling in the Inner Sound of Skye on 1 April 2021 might impact on the national status of priority marine features in that area.
Answer
Commercial fishing activity in the Inner Sound of Skye is already heavily regulated and the annual resumption of trawling on the 1 April 2021 will not affect the national status or future development of the Marine Protected Area (MPA) / Priority Marine Feature (PMF) network.
On 10 March 2021, an emergency MPA was designated for a part of the Inner Sound of Skye to protect the critically endangered flapper skate. Interim management measures came into force on 17 March 2021 to provide protection from a range of fishing activities including mobile gear, while further evidence is gathered to inform a permanent protection strategy.