Chamber and committees

We have talked about fin fish, but there are also connections with shellfish and seaweed. What are your thoughts on those industries?

You raised a point about how the technology is changing and how that can perhaps be made more obvious and more accessible.

Thank you for coming along, Professor Griggs. I have listened very closely to what you have said. I live on an island and represent Argyll and Bute, and I am struck by the differing views from across the community. You and the convener were absolutely right when you said that there needs to be a person who can listen to both sides and restore trust.

Over the past year, we have taken evidence on what happens in our seas. You made the point that water is different to land, and many of my constituents on the industry side as well as those in the community and environmental NGOs have said that, too. I have been trying to understand how the flows of water impact fish farms and the cumulative effect of that. I would also like to know how the different planning authorities link together. Can you expand a bit on those issues?

You have made an important and clear point. We have seen that approach in the way that wind farms have operated and with the whisky distilleries in my constituency sharing their technology and how things have changed. That is helpful.

Should I move on to the other fish types, convener?

I thank the witnesses for coming along. I have a quick question that might require a longer answer. I am interested in the witnesses’ views on the enforcement powers in the bill. Does the bill provide adequate, effective and proportionate powers for policing and prosecution?

Thank you for coming to the meeting and sharing all your thoughts with us. I am sure that that must still be incredibly difficult for you.

As the convener said in her introduction, we stand in solidarity with your country. For example, last week, I was in Dunoon, which is in my constituency, and the high school there had big Ukrainian flags surrounding its games hall. There is that strength of feeling for your country.

We have talked a lot about Ukrainians who are coming to Scotland. I am also interested in what you can tell us about what is happening within Ukraine. As my colleague Dr Allan said, we need to keep that in the public psyche—in public awareness. Will you share your thoughts about what is going on in your home country?

Thank you, minister, and your team for coming along today. In your introduction, you talked about your recent visit to Poland. Are there any other experiences from your visit that you can share with us? You have highlighted the importance of the third sector. What did you learn from the third sector in Poland and Germany that the third sector in Scotland could perhaps also learn from when welcoming Ukrainians here?

I said to the consul general that, last week, I was in Dunoon grammar school, which had Ukrainian flags. As I drive from Edinburgh to Argyll and Bute, I see that there is much support across various communities for Ukraine. I am interested to hear more about what we can do, from a soft power perspective, to support Ukraine.

I think that we all hope so, too, and we are standing behind you very strongly.

Pete Goddard, do you have anything to add?