Chamber and committees

It is on the point that Simon Macdonald raised about cod not spawning in muddy areas. I understand that the evidence on that is not conclusive and that, in Sweden, cod have been found to spawn in a muddy, sheltered body of water that is similar to the Clyde. I am interested to hear from the witnesses whether they feel that more research should be done into that before a decision is made.

In so far as the reports are just a presentation of the facts, as you said, the CFA supports them and will have no issues with them when they are published.

I just have a very quick yes or no question for each panellist, starting with Alex Watson Crook. Do you believe that there is evidence to support the banning of creeling and dive fishing along with trawling?

Good morning. I think that I have understood this. You are saying that bycatch is the biggest of the main factors that impact on cod spawning that we have potential to do something about. With that in mind, can spatial management be a tool to reduce trawling bycatch? Is differentiation between different types of fishing in different areas a useful route to go down?

I have a quick question for Simon Macdonald. You seemed to suggest that predators, rather than fishers, are having the biggest impact on cod stock. However, research that I have seen from Marine Scotland science, in conjunction with the European Commission, states that

“a drastic reduction of juvenile whiting bycatch is necessary for the ... stock to recover”

and that

“Predation from grey seals had little impact overall”.

Will you share the evidence for your statement with the committee?

You have not seen the reports.

I thank the cabinet secretary for an advance copy of his statement. He mentioned the limits of devolved powers, but that does not excuse the lack of ambition shown by the Scottish Government over the powers that it has, including in relation to land use planning.

On land, Scotland’s Climate Assembly has recommended that community right-to-buy legislation be enhanced to empower communities

“to take ownership of unproductive land for climate action”.

Will the cabinet secretary confirm that the Government will include that practical suggestion as part of its proposed land reform bill? If not, why not?

Do you think that the principle of independence is important?

The reason for the approach is to make implementing the right as effective as possible; it is not to do with just making your jobs easier or something.

On the issue of a statutory body, the Scottish Food Coalition believes that there should be an independent Scottish food commission to undertake work such as monitoring progress towards achieving good food nation plans, facilitating citizen engagement and providing research on food system issues. As Jim Fairlie said, there has not been agreement across all stakeholders about which body should have that role. Do you or the Scottish Government believe that, whichever body that is, it should be independent of the Scottish Government?