| Allan Wilson:
Contrary to
some statements that have just been made, I believe that there is a deal
of interest in the debate.
As I said last
week in the debate on special areas of conservation, we in Scotland are
blessed with a wealth of natural resources that are the envy of many. Not
least among those resources are the fish that live in our fresh waters
and the diverse fishing opportunities that they provide.
There is no
reason why the Parliament cannot develop and improve those opportunities
to the benefit of the people of Scotland. Such development must be sustainable.
We must ensure that future generations of not only Scots, but the visitors
whom we would like to welcome to Scotland, will be able to enjoy fishing
in Scotland.
That calls for
rational, informed and sensitive management. It also requires wide participation
among the various sectors of the salmon and freshwater fishing community.
That was recognised when my colleague John Home Robertson issued the consultation
document "Protecting and Promoting Scotland's Freshwater Fish and Fisheries:
A Review" and when Rhona Brankin followed that with the green paper that
we are debating.
Scotland has
a long history of salmon fisheries management—there is evidence of law
from the 12th century. In 1997, the Scottish Office published the report
of the Scottish salmon strategy task force, which was charged with considering
salmon fisheries alone. It is now time to consider the bigger picture.
How do we manage all our fish and fishery resources?
The consultation
document's purpose was to document the position of freshwater fish and
fisheries. Many responses were received from a variety of individuals and
groups. How we manage our freshwater primary resource is of the utmost
importance, and the green paper sets out how we should do that.
I am heartened
by the excellent responses from a variety of interested parties, including
members of the public, local authorities, district salmon fishery boards,
angling clubs and associations, and non-governmental organisations that
are interested in fish and the freshwater environment. That gives the lie
to the belief that there is no interest out there in how we address such
problems. It is heartening to know that the issue can generate such a high
level of interest. It shows that people care—as I do—about Scotland's freshwater
fish and fisheries.
The green paper
is part of a long-term strategy. It is a new start to the process of freshwater
fisheries management in Scotland and recognises the interrelationships
not only of different fish species, but of the variety of people and activities
that can affect them. The paper was issued to provide anyone who is interested
in protecting and promoting Scotland's freshwater fish and fisheries with
the opportunity to help the Executive to take management into the 21st
century. I hope that this debate will also provide that opportunity.
Brian Adam (North-East
Scotland) (SNP): The minister says that he
wishes to take management fresh into the new century. His predecessor suggested
that there was no prospect of legislative time to deal with the matter
in the immediate future. Will the minister say whether he thinks that we
need a legislative framework to allow progress to be made? If so, when
does he anticipate that legislative time will be made available?
Allan Wilson:
I will come to that shortly. Until the Cabinet
meets, I am not in a position to discuss the next legislative programme.
However, I accept the basic premise and will deal with it, as will my colleague
Ross Finnie.
The paper recognises,
as I do, that a wealth of knowledge and experience out with the Scottish
Executive should be harnessed.
I assume that
members are aware of the broad range of issues that are covered by the
green paper. I do not propose to provide a blow-by-blow account of everything
that is in the paper, but I assure members that the Executive is fully
behind its proposals. Some proposals can be put into effect only in the
long term. If I may, I would like to concentrate on a few issues that we
can and must address in the short term and the medium term.
Alasdair Morgan
(Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (SNP): When
I looked through the document, I could not find any reference to the effect
of acidity on fish stocks, which is a particular problem in Dumfries and
Galloway as a result of a combination of high levels of forestry and the
former power stations in Northern Ireland. Will the minister take that
issue into consideration? Will he involve the Forestry Commission in discussions?
Allan Wilson:
I have been assured that the issue is mentioned.
If it is not, I will certainly ensure that attention is directed towards
it, as the issue has been raised. In the consultations on the water framework
directive, we are considering river basin management and flows from forestry
and other agricultural production facilities. The short answer to the member's
question, therefore, is that the issue will be taken into consideration.
I want to turn
to economic analysis, about which I have an announcement to make. We know
that angling is an extremely popular sport and that many hotels and guest
houses, particularly in rural areas, depend on visiting anglers to extend
their tourism seasons. We also know that many new fisheries, particularly
for rainbow trout and coarse fish, have been developed in recent years.
However, we do not know with any precision how important salmon and freshwater
fisheries are to Scotland's economy as a whole. To remedy that, I am pleased
to announce that an in-depth economic analysis will be undertaken by 2003.
The terms of reference are being finalised and will be put out to tender
next month, but finance has been secured to ensure that the economic analysis
can take place.
The law relating
to salmon and freshwater fisheries in Scotland is complex. A draft bill
to consolidate the existing Scottish salmon and freshwater fisheries legislation
is at an advanced stage of development.
Over the past
few decades, a number of fish species have been introduced into Scotland—five
new species have appeared and are now established in Loch Lomond, for example.
Undoubtedly, some species had adverse effects on the ecology of the loch.
We need to take stock of what we have in Scotland and seriously consider
how to regulate further introductions. That will be done this year through
an appropriate order under the Import of Live Fish (Scotland) Act 1978.
Brian Adam:
Will the minister indicate what steps are
being taken to measure the impact of the introduction of non-native species
in places such as Loch Lomond?
Allan Wilson:
Research has been done on that. It featured
in the consultation documentation that was proposed by John Home Robertson,
and we received several responses. There is now scientific data to establish
the impact that the introduction of those species has had on indigenous
species. That scientific data underpins our intention to make the appropriate
order, under the Import of Live Fish (Scotland) Act 1978, to protect indigenous
species.
To address the
point that was made earlier, there is currently no legislation to regulate
the transfer of native fish within Scotland, but it is clear that appropriate
measures should be introduced as early as possible.
There will always
be a requirement to move some fish. Where that happens, we must be sure
that the fish are healthy. We will consider the scope for registration
of fish farms and hatcheries that provide fish for stocking. Fisheries
Research Services is producing guidance on stocking practice, with particular
reference to restoration proposals.
On increasing
angling opportunities, it is quite possible for anglers to fish without
killing their catch—coarse anglers do that all the time. Many owners of
salmon fisheries are promoting the adoption of catch and release. However,
some anglers are still keen on killing as many salmon as possible, sometimes
to cover their fishing costs and perhaps to look for a little bit more.
There have been widespread calls for many years for a ban on the sale of
rod-caught salmon to stop that practice. As the chamber will know, I have
issued a draft Scottish statutory instrument for consultation and officials
are now in the process of analysing the responses that have been received,
with a view to introducing a Scottish statutory instrument to stop the
practice.
A review of
the Fisheries Research Services freshwater research programme has been
undertaken to refocus work to reflect better the developing policy needs
of the Executive, not least in so far as the introduction of alien species
is concerned.
On the legitimacy
of coarse angling methods, it is a matter of great concern to coarse anglers
that every time they go fishing in Scotland they commit an offence if they
use methods that are regarded as the norm elsewhere in the world. At the
moment, the use of rod rests in Scotland is regarded as fishing by means
of a set line. Changes in primary legislation will be required to rectify
that situation if we are serious about promoting that branch of the sport,
given its increasing popularity.
Scotland has
great fishing, both for salmon and freshwater fish. Let us not underestimate
the opportunity that angling provides to attract visitors here. I want
to see fishing promoted as a major part of our tourism strategy. This country
offers world-class angling and my officials are liaising with Visit Scotland
to ensure that fishing is to the fore in its promotional work.
There has been
widespread criticism over the years of the system of protection orders
made under the Freshwater and Salmon Fisheries (Scotland) Act 1976. When
ministers are satisfied that applicants will provide increased opportunities
for fishing for freshwater fish, they may make protection orders making
it an offence to fish without legal right or written permission from the
owner of the right. Where there is no protection order, anglers still need
permission to fish, but fishing without permission can be dealt with only
in the civil courts. It is time to look afresh at the management of freshwater
fishing in Scotland, and to establish a system that is designed to balance
the needs of anglers and riparian owners.
I have taken
three interventions, which I know has extended my address. I will conclude
on an important point about the management of fisheries.
The most important
issue to be considered in the green paper is how rational management can
be achieved. No structure is in place to manage wild brown trout and coarse
fisheries. The green paper made a number of proposals based on submissions
that were made by Angling for Change. Meetings have been held with that
group and further discussions are in prospect. A pilot project to establish
how salmon, trout and coarse fishery management plans may be integrated
is being discussed with Angling for Change, with a view to future implementation.
I commend the
green paper to the Parliament and look forward to support for its proposals
to develop this vital contributor to Scotland's economy, to provide enjoyment
for Scotland's people and visitors, and to secure the future for Scotland's
fish and fisheries.
I move,
That the Parliament
endorses the Scottish Executive's commitment to the future conservation
and management of salmon and freshwater fish and fisheries in Scotland,
as set out in its consultation paper Scotland's Freshwater Fish and Fisheries:
Securing their Future, and welcomes the firm intention of the Executive
to work in partnership with the users and owners of these resources to
ensure better management and sustainable fisheries.
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