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We have heard about the importance of ecosystems, which include people as well as nature, and we have heard about declining stocks and loss of vessels. Given the impact that climate change is having on inshore fisheries, I am interested in hearing from the panel—perhaps Charles Millar could kick us off—about any tangible things that we can do to support and promote low-impact fishing methods, to ensure that we have a just transition away from the high-impact methods.

The reclassification of blueberry rust from the list of quarantine pests in the list of regulated non-quarantine pests suggests to me that controls on that pest have been ineffective as it has moved from being a pest that is largely absent from a territory to being one that is already present in the territory with measures in place to minimise its spread. I am interested in receiving any data on the rising prevalence of the pest and any analysis of what has led to its spread, and in hearing what steps the relevant ministers and Governments are taking to control and eradicate it.

Good morning. I am Mercedes Villalba and I represent the North East Scotland region.

Following on from the discussion about the difficulties of developing a skilled worker visa—and thinking about the comments about local workforce challenges—I wonder whether there is the potential to develop for the local workforce a skills pathway for aspiring fishers in Scotland. What would be required to do that, and has the Government engaged with any of your organisations on developing that kind of vocational pathway?

I think that it is fair to say that debates about inshore fisheries management and conservation have become quite polarised. Part of the purpose of this round-table session was to bring together different groups and find some common ground. I think that we have been able to do that in some areas.

We have heard suggestions that those with a stake in areas should be brought in as statutory consultees on marine planning applications. How can affected communities input their voices into inshore fisheries decision making?

Perhaps Bally Philp could start on that.

It is not brief, convener.

Thank you. There has been a suggestion that there should be strict liability under section 2 of the bill, whereby a landowner, occupier or dog owner would be liable—

Good morning, witnesses. Thank you for coming.

Are you satisfied with the definition of hunting? We have heard calls for it to be clarified with an expanded list of related terms such as “stalking”, “flushing” or “pursuing”. What is your view on that?

There is some concern among wildlife campaigners that the exceptions are broad and cover a lot of circumstances. Will you take this opportunity to confirm that the intention of the bill is to prohibit all use of dogs to hunt wild animals and that any exceptions will be applied narrowly and subject to rigorous scrutiny?

I thought that we were somewhere else earlier, so I apologise if my previous supplementary questions were off topic.

Will the minister outline the different circumstances in which the Scottish Government considers it appropriate to hunt a wild mammal using a dog under the exceptions and when it would be inappropriate?