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What is your understanding of the current extent of the use of glue traps in settings such as hospitality and hospitals?

Do panel members agree that there is a need for additional regulation of use of wildlife traps? What is your experience of use of spring traps and live-capture bird traps? What evidence is there that traps are misused in relation to both animal welfare and wildlife crime concerns?

I am pleased that you mentioned monkfish, given its importance and value to the white fish fleet. If more work was done by Marine Scotland to properly assess monkfish stocks—doing that could avoid further quota cuts—would you ensure that the importance of monkfish to Scotland is matched by increased scientific efforts? Annabel Turpie highlighted earlier that you provided £9.7 million-worth of science data. Is there any intention to increase that?

I am just covering for the convener for a few minutes. I will bring in Rhoda Grant with question 13, which is on muirburn.

My question is about the muirburn code. Some stakeholders have questioned why the bill requires licensees to “have regard to” the code rather than, for example, to “comply” with the code. Why have you chosen that wording? How will it be determined that a person has had regard to the muirburn code?

To go back to the point about misinformation on fisheries, I refer members and anyone else who is listening to some excellent papers that the Shetland Fishermen’s Association has produced, entitled “Fishy Falsehoods”, one of which is about the impact of trawling on the sea bed. It says that there is scientific evidence that shows that the

“true impact of trawling on the seabed is much less than the lurid headlines would suggest.”

I will go on to my question. What key outcomes and challenges for the Scottish fishing fleet are emerging from the latest international fisheries negotiations?

I think that there is a concern that the assessments might just be seen as a tick-box exercise. For example, Shetland’s view of the assessment on the national care service is that it was just a tick-box exercise.

Thank you.

Good morning. I will turn to island proofing, or island communities impact assessments. Does the annual report show that those assessments have led to a change in mindset and culture in public bodies?

I have a question on the back of Rhoda Grant’s question on transport and housing—you cannot speak about depopulation in the islands without speaking about those issues. In last night’s meeting of the cross-party group on space, the issue of housing in rural areas was mentioned—the discussion was not just about island areas, but it is an issue in Shetland.

On transport, as you are probably aware, people cannot make bookings to get on the external ferry to the mainland. That is having a long-term impact on islanders’ confidence, and I have heard people say that they can no longer live on the islands because they cannot get away. Does the Scottish Government understand how serious the issue is, with people being unable to get a booking to get to the mainland to carry out their normal family business and other duties? With the booking system being open only until 30 September, people cannot make onward plans. I can demonstrate how severe the issue is. I launched an online survey on Monday and, within 24 hours, I got 200 responses—it is a big issue at the moment. Does the Government understand how critical it is to get transport right?