Seòmar agus comataidhean

We are working to overcome a number of complex issues that currently impede peatland restoration on common grazings. The Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill will address a number of legal barriers, giving crofters and grazing committees greater control over how their land is used. In addition, we are working to address complexities around the long-term monitoring and funding of peatland restoration projects to encourage wider uptake of peatland restoration on crofting land across Scotland. This includes working with Peatland Action to develop incentives and tackle any barriers we identify when taking forward peatland restoration projects on common grazings on the Scottish Ministers’ estates.

NatureScot will also be trialling a new approach to support crofting and community demonstration projects this year.

We considered recommendation 12 of the Deer Working Group (DWG), noting the importance of a balanced approach to statutory rights to preventing damage by deer and how best to balance the needs of occupiers with the rights of landowners. We have taken forward recommendations made by the DWG to improve the rights of occupiers in specific circumstances. Officials are due to meet with the Scottish Tenant Farming Association (STFA) to discuss this further, and will then provide further advice on the options available. This could include broadening the land on which tenant farmers can cull deer.

The changes to legislation proposed in the Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill, in relation to undertaking environmental projects on common grazings, will strengthen the role of grazings committees and encourage crofters and their communities to have a greater say in how their land is used. By introducing these changes we hope to ensure access for common grazings to future funding schemes that incentivise environmental uses.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-40154 on 17 September 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

The Agri-Environment Climate Scheme (AECS) offers support for targeted land management options such as Moorland Management, which benefits a range of moorland habitats including peatland and upland heath. This option can complement the capital works delivered through Peatland ACTION. This enables land managers to access support for preparatory and post-restoration activities that safeguard long-term outcomes.

In addition to the £250 million committed to restore 250,000 hectares of degraded peatland by 2030, primarily through Peatland ACTION, over £3.8 million capital funding is estimated to have been provided through 327 contracts to benefit peatland restoration since AECS launched in 2015.

Additionally, from 1 January this year, new requirements have been added to the Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAECs) which farmers and crofters must meet to receive agricultural funding. This has prohibited a range of activities on peatlands and wetlands to prevent damage, in recognition of the important role they play in storing carbon.

The realisation of the Vision for Agriculture and the new four-tier framework will seek to strengthen alignment between our outcomes of nature restoration, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and a just transition, alongside continued high-quality food production.

The Scottish Government remains firmly committed to delivering our vision for agriculture and support farming and food production in Scotland to become a global leader in sustainable and regenerative agriculture. To achieve this we are delivering a phased transition from legacy Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) support into the new four-tier framework ensuring ensure a just transition for our farmers and crofters.

In 2025 we introduced additional measures to protect wetlands and peatlands as part of the mandatory conditions of GAEC 6. These measures are designed to promote healthy peatland contributing to improved biodiversity by providing a habitat for plants and insects as well as regulating water flow and prevent flooding.

Work is continuing with the industry as we demonstrate our commitment to co-develop the future support framework delivering the Vision for Agriculture and meeting the objectives of the Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Act 2025.

The available information on the recorded landings of UK vessels by species and district landed into Scotland in 1986 are published in table 6 of the Scottish Sea Fisheries Statistics 1986:

https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/statistics/2020/11/sea-fisheries-statistics-1922-2010/documents/1986/1986/govscot%3Adocument/1986.pdf

There is no information available for 1986 on the recorded landings of foreign vessels into Scotland in 1986 by species and district landed.

The available information on recorded landings by species and district landed into Scotland for 1996 are published in tables 12 (for UK vessels) and 26 (for foreign vessels) of the Scottish Sea Fisheries Statistics 1996:

https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/statistics/2020/11/sea-fisheries-statistics-1922-2010/documents/1996/1996/govscot%3Adocument/1996.pdf

The recording landings in tonnes for all vessels into west coast ports in Scotland for the requested species by district in 2006 are as follows:

There are currently 80 Scottish registered fishing vessels and a further 21 vessels from other UK and Isle of Man administrations targeting scallops and fitted with Remote Electronic Monitoring equipment. Between 14 June 2024 and 13 August 2025 analysis has been carried out on approximately 1240 fishing voyages targeting Scallops and as a result of this analysis, two infringements are currently under investigation.

The Scottish Government remains firmly committed to supporting small producers and empowering them to play a key role in making our Vision for Agriculture a reality. This year, up to £1 million is being invested through the Small Producer Pilot Fund to continue to support innovation, resilience, and growth across the sector.

Those individuals or groups with a holding no larger than 30 hectares (excluding common grazing), are eligible, and as we move forward with the Pilot Fund, we will further assess additional needs for local communities and this sector, and how we can support them.

The member may be aware that the First Minister visited Orkney Auction Mart in February 2025, and there he re-affirmed Scottish Government’s commitment to supporting small producers and strengthening Scotland’s food supply chain.

As an example of this support, last year nearly £300,000 in grants were awarded to several private kill abattoirs. This funding supported a wide range of vital activity – from training private kill coordinators and upskilling butchers, to improving customer engagement and developing strong business plans. These facilities are essential to a thriving food supply chain, offering accessible, high-quality services that help ensure long-term viability for small producers.

Further targeted support for this sector will be detailed in the upcoming Rural Support Plan.

Following our 2023 consultation Ending the Sale of Peat in Scotland, we organised a series of workshops and have conducted regular engagement and site visits with industry stakeholders to gather views. This will inform the scope and timing of a ban on the sale of peat for horticulture and ensure that it is right for Scotland.

We have also undertaken or commissioned research to address gaps in the evidence needed to support development of our approach, including projects which assess peat alternatives, undertake trials for commercial production and assess the readiness of industry for transition.

The lack of clarity around UK Government's revision of timescales for regulating peat sales, alongside uncertainty regarding legislative timescales across UK and devolved governments, directly impacts Scottish Government's ability to apply effective legislation for this devolved issue, given constraints of the UKIMA. Through sustained and determined engagement with UK Government and devolved governments, we are working to overcome barriers and ensure robust legislation to protect peatlands.