Question reference: S5W-36095
- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
- Date lodged: 11 March 2021
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Current status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 23 March 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-35390 by Ben Macpherson on 11 March 2021, whether Marine Scotland’s decision to make public EPS licence applications by fish farms after a determination has been made is compliant with (a) Marine Scotland’s duties under Articles 7 and 6 of the Aarhus Convention principles of public participation and (b) the requirement of the Nolan principles of public life that “information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing”.
Answer
The Scottish Government considers that making EPS licence applications by fish farms available publicly after a determination has been made is compliant with the Aarhus Convention. The Convention does not impose an obligation to involve the public in all decisions concerning activities which have the potential to harm the environment. Rather, the Convention applies in specific circumstances, to specific categories of activities.
Our decision to publish EPS licence applications has been made to promote openness and transparency in line with the Nolan Principles of Public Life.