Chamber and committees

Can I ask one more question, convener?

My first question is about the interaction between the future fisheries management strategy, which was published at the end of last year, and the commitment in the programme for government to deliver a step change in marine protection. What are the potential trade-offs between the two?

With regard to our future catching policy, I note the reference in Elspeth Macdonald’s submission to the advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea—ICES—particularly with regard to North Sea cod. We hear locally that there is plenty of cod in the sea, but the scientific evidence does not seem to agree with that. Could you expand on the point that you made in your submission?

I was pleased to hear Katie Gillham reference the Shetland Shellfish Management Organisation as a good example of collaborative working and local management. I think it was Calum Duncan who referred to the sea birds and seals that can get caught up in fishing gear. We will all have seen pictures on social media of sea birds getting caught in gillnets.

I asked the previous panel about the scientific evidence from ICES on North Sea cod. What are your views on how to reduce unnecessary discards and bycatch? There is a scenario whereby small whiting are being taken out of the mouths of cod and are gutted while the cod are thrown over the side. I would like to hear a little bit about our witnesses’ views on future catching policy.

Do you have any comments on that, Mr Buchan?

Good morning, cabinet secretary. Thank you for taking the time to come to Shetland in the early days of your new appointment. I hope that that was not the last time that we will see you in Shetland.

I want to ask about vessel tracking and monitoring systems. What are the plans and potential issues that you see in trying to monitor movements of fishing vessels via GPS? We know that there are concerns about fisheries enforcement, so I am interested in your take on that.

How does that impact on enforcement with regard to foreign vessels? You will be aware of the concerns that some have expressed that foreign vessels are boarded more often than UK or Scottish vessels.

I have a quick question that follows on from the points that Alasdair Allan and Karen Adam made about training and about encouraging people to come into the food and drink workforce. When it comes to college education, there is a lack of student accommodation as well as a lack of housing. If we are to encourage people to come to the islands to learn and to make use of the excellent educational facilities, we need to do something about student accommodation.

Moving on to the aquaculture sector, is there a timescale for the regulatory reform?

I would like to go back to workforce issues. Geoff Ogle mentioned the shortage of vets and hygiene inspectors, and butchers have been mentioned. Mary Brennan said that there is a need to invest in people as well as in everything else that has been discussed. We have the ambition 2030 plans and we recognise the need to get more people into food and drink, farming, fishing and aquaculture. We want young people to make it their career of choice, but how can we do that? How can we use research and intelligence to ensure that young people see good careers ahead of them in the food and drink industry?