Extracts from Rural Economy and Connectivity questions in the Scottish Parliament - May 31

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to protect inshore fisheries against unlicensed commercial fishing. (S5O-01045)

Measures under the Shellfish (Restrictions on Taking by Unlicensed Fishing Boats) (Scotland) Order 2017 came into force on 17 April and place restrictions on the quantities of shellfish that unlicensed fishing boats can take. The measures support the right of people to enjoy fishing as a hobby, establishing daily catch limits to provide clarity and tackle the issue of unlicensed, illegal commercial fishing that is conducted under the guise of hobby fishing. To enforce them, Marine Scotland compliance uses rigid inflatable boats and conducts regular inshore patrols.

I thank the cabinet secretary for advising us of that order, which I am sure will be welcomed. I assert that our inshore fisheries play an important part in our rural economy and supply absolutely superb food. Will the recently announced pilots seek to improve fisheries and will they help us to make further improvements to support our coastal communities?

Yes, I believe that the pilots will. We want to see our fishermen and communities make the most of our inshore resource, which is what the recently announced inshore fisheries pilots aim to achieve. They will explore two different management approaches to determine what works in delivering greater economic, social and environmental benefits to coastal communities and our rural economy, and they will explore a more localised approach to fisheries management, in which fisheries interests work together to develop distinct arrangements that meet their needs.

The learning from the pilots will inform a more strategic approach to managing inshore fisheries, to ensure that we make the most of our valuable inshore waters, and they will inform work on the future of fisheries management in Scotland in the next few years.

In my constituency of Galloway and West Dumfries, illegal electrofishing takes place regularly in Fleet and Luce Bay, with potentially hugely damaging effects on the long-term sustainability of the stock. The Scottish Government has totally failed to control that. Indeed, some razor fishermen are concerned that stocks may be unrecoverable if the illegal fishing continues.

I understand that there are planned trials of electrofishing in selected areas, but what steps are being taken to protect places that are not in the trial areas from continued illegal fishing?

We are taking steps to ensure that electrofishing is properly carried out and that pilots are carried out to demonstrate, under strict regulation, whether the fisheries can safely and sustainably pursue the method. We are taking that measure.

I thought that my meeting with members indicated that we were not dealing with the issue in a party political way. Perhaps I am too naive in that respect, because we now appear to be. Irrespective of that, I will continue to ensure that the Scottish Government does its best to respect the interests of communities, the environment and inshore fisheries fishermen. We will continue to work in the way that we have explained to Finlay Carson on several occasions.

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in resolving the dispute between seafarers and management at Marine Scotland. (S5O-01049)

Constructive discussions are continuing between the Scottish Government and the recognised trade unions. We remain optimistic that the matter can be resolved amicably and without industrial action taking place. Marine Scotland mariners play a vital role in the protection of Scotland's seas, and the Scottish Government is very appreciative of the difficult work that they undertake in helping to protect Scotland's marine environment and resources.

Representatives from both Marine Scotland and Unite the union say that there is a distinct lack of action being taken by the Scottish Government to resolve the dispute. Given the likelihood now that industrial action will take place, what steps is the Government taking to avoid that happening by considering fairness between Marine Scotland's seafarers and other public sector seafaring staff?

Marine Scotland management agreed in April to continue to pay the recruitment and retention allowance at the current rate, which is at the heart of the issue, until the end of October 2017. That is when the business case for the continuation of the supplement will need to return to the pay supplement panel for consideration and approval. Extending the allowance until October allows time for Marine Scotland to continue to assess recruitment and retention issues in the sector and for the trade unions to work in partnership with the Scottish Government on the pay comparability exercise, which is now happening.