Chamber and committees

Does anyone else want to come in? In the interests of time, perhaps it could be highlights.

It is good to hear that innovation is happening.

This question is for Terry A’Hearn. Echoing the findings of the Rural Economy and Connectivity and Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committees in the previous session, the Government’s shared policy programme states that

“the status quo of aquaculture regulation is not an option”

and includes a commitment to

“reform the regulatory and planning framework”.

That has started with the independent review from Professor Griggs, and we are waiting for the first piece of that.

Since SEPA’s responsibilities include managing the environmental impact of fish farms, I would appreciate hearing about your engagement with the review, whether you believe that it will catalyse the regulatory reform that is desperately needed and what else is being or should be done to minimise the impact of fish pollution on the environment and reduce the considerable animal welfare harms across the industry.

I am keen on the national planning framework 4, and I imagine that all the witnesses, given that they are from public bodies, have engaged with it. It is a crucial tool for achieving net zero in Scotland and ensuring that biodiversity flourishes.

From the witnesses’ responses to Jim Fairlie, we have heard about land use pressures. Master plans, land use plans and spatial mapping have been mentioned. We have a finite amount of land in Scotland, so there are great demands on it for housing, forestry, agriculture, carbon sequestration, renewables, infrastructure and more. There is probably a need for an overarching land use plan for the whole of Scotland, which would enable us to use our land most efficiently and equitably.

Is such work taking place? If not, would that be a useful approach? If so, how much more data and research would be required to develop such a plan? That brings us back to the joined-up approach that we talked about earlier, so I would appreciate it if anyone picked that up.

My question follows on from the convener’s initial question about policy. I would like to hear whether panel members feel that there is enough support in the current policy environment to ensure a timely and just transition for coastal sectors and communities, to ensure that they can continue utilising our marine and coastal habitats, as new measures are brought in to reduce the impact on biodiversity. What support is needed to ensure a just transition?

To come back to my question on just transition, is there enough support in the current policy environment to ensure a timely and just transition for coastal sectors and communities? If anyone else on the panel wants to respond to that, I would appreciate it. Also, just chime in if you have read the section on coasts in NPF4.

Would anyone else like to talk about joined-up approaches across organisations?

Yes. I am talking to everybody. I did not address that question just to you, but have you managed to look at NPF4? It is okay if you have not, because a lot of people have not.

Thank you for that. I would like to hear from the rest of the panel about the specifics of the just transition.

Thank you. Would anyone else like to come in on the just transition aspects in their areas?

What support would be needed from the Scottish Government, Marine Scotland or others to scale up or extend the project along the coastline?