Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-06502 on 6 February 2017. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-06502 on 6 February 2017. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

The Scottish Government welcomes and will consider all evidence and representations in developing an Inshore Fisheries Bill. Discussions with a range of key stakeholders will take place ahead of any formal work on a Bill, to help ascertain where improvements to legislation may be considered to ensure healthy, sustainable and profitable fisheries.

Marine Scotland has a number of initiatives to support creelers and hand-divers as well as other commercial fishing sectors operating in Scotland’s inshore waters. Those initiatives are in line with Marine Scotland's Inshore Fisheries Strategy, which aims to create a more sustainable, profitable, and well-managed inshore fisheries sector in Scotland.

For brown crab, velvet crab and lobster, Marine Scotland recently announced new landing controls to help protect stocks. Those controls, which apply to some of our most important inshore stocks, will come into force later this year. In addition an increased minimum landing size for king scallops is to take effect on 1 June 2017 - a very important species for the dived sector.

A key objective of Marine Scotland's Inshore Strategy is to improve data collection. To help deliver this, Marine Scotland initiated a survey of the static gear sector with the aim of better understanding fishing effort around the coast.

More generally, inshore fishermen around Scotland are able to input directly into fisheries management through our Regional Inshore Fisheries Groups (RIFGs).

Creelers and divers can also apply for support through the European Marine and Fisheries Fund (EMFF). In addition, the Scottish Government is, through the EMFF, funding the University of St Andrews £1.5million to manage a Scottish inshore fisheries research programme.

Marine Scotland has a number of initiatives to support mobile gear vessels as well as other commercial fishing sectors operating in Scotland’s inshore waters. These initiatives are in line with Marine Scotland's Inshore Fisheries Strategy, which aims to create a more sustainable, profitable and well-managed inshore fisheries sector in Scotland.

For the king scallop sector, new management measures are to take effect from 1 June 2017 to help protect this valuable species. This will see a new minimum landing size introduced as well as new controls on dredge use within 12 nautical miles.

The Scottish Government is also supporting a phased introduction for the landing obligation, where species are added gradually to the list that must be landed. This will give vessels an opportunity to trial and adapt their fishing methods before the full landing obligation is brought into force in 2019.

More generally, inshore fishermen around Scotland are able to input directly into fisheries management through our Regional Inshore Fisheries Groups (RIFGs).

Mobile gear vessels can also apply for support through the European Marine and Fisheries Fund (EMFF). In addition, the Scottish Government is, through the EMFF, funding the University of St Andrews £1.5million to manage a Scottish inshore fisheries research programme.

The Scottish Government works in partnership with the Scottish Sea Angling Conservation Network to promote recreational sea angling as a low impact activity and encourages responsible angling through the dissemination of educational material and a range of outreach activity (www.ssacn.org/).

The Scottish Government also work closely with a wide range of bodies to develop and grow marine tourism. The Strategic Framework for Scotland’s Marine Tourism Sector is focused on the sustainable growth of Scotland’s marine tourism sector, and seeks to develop and grow the sector in line with the ambitions and targets of the national tourism strategy – Tourism Scotland 2020 (www.hie.co.uk/growth-sectors/tourism/marine-tourism-strategy/deafult.html).

The Scottish Government is aware that Stirling is considering a tidal barrage on the River Forth at Stirling as part of its City Deal proposals. Consideration of the City Deal proposals is at an early state and to date, no formal or statutory stakeholder consultation has taken place with regard to any potential impacts on local designated areas from a tidal barrage development.

All matters relating to ship-to-ship transfers are reserved to the UK Government. The Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 (as amended) do not apply to reserved matters.

There have been no meetings between Ministers or officials and these bodies to discuss the application for ship to ship oil transfers by Cromarty Firth Port Authority.

The Secretary of State for Transport is the Competent Authority, under the Merchant Shipping (Ship-to-Ship Transfers) Regulations 2010, and is responsible for undertaking appropriate assessments when required. Scottish Natural Heritage has provided advice to the environmental advisors of the Cromarty Firth Port Authority. The Scottish Government has repeatedly requested devolution of this function to allow decisions to be taken by those with responsibility for protecting Scotland's environment.