Seòmar agus comataidhean

Is the committee content to delegate authority to me to sign off a letter to the Scottish Government, informing it of our decision?

Members indicated agreement.

Dr Needle, would you like to come back in? You were cut off in your prime.

There was outrage when the first order was laid, and it was very quickly withdrawn. You then undertook some sort of consultation, which resulted in a change. I have struggled to find any of the respondents or stakeholders whom you have talked about consulting who think that the solution is the right one. Have all the stakeholders, including the scientists, got it wrong and you have got it right?

Cabinet secretary, you suggested that there would be a short-term impact on local fishers and that there would be no compensation. You compared the situation to cod closures in the North Sea, but this is completely different. We have heard from one fisherman who will have to move 430 creels from the area for 11 weeks. Given the normal size of a creel boat, fishers are not able to fish as extensively as they might wish—they have to keep to inshore waters and so on. Moving a large quantity of creels risks the stability of vessels from capsize, putting the lives of fishermen at risk. That is 11 weeks without income. I could not survive losing my income for 11 weeks—it just could not happen.

However, it is more than that. We hear your Government talking about the impact of climate change and a just transition for the oil industry and for farmers. Our coastal communities are already feeling the pinch and they cannot just get up and move. We have coastal communities in which families already have no income because of this U-turn in policy. Why can you not consider compensating families, saving their livelihoods and, potentially, saving the economic sustainability of our rural coastal communities?

So, it is okay to lose all your income for 11 weeks.

If you are very brief.

Finally, we come to Mercedes Villalba.

Does any other member wish to speak? I call Jackie Baillie.

As no member has any other points to raise, I ask the minister to respond.

That was really interesting, Dr Needle, but the crux of the matter is whether you have any evidence that the sustainability of the cod stock in the Clyde is being affected by the lack of spawning. Is there more of a lack of spawning now than there was previously? Do you have any evidence to suggest that there are fewer eggs and less spawning by cod?