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NatureScot regularly reviews its approach to licensing to ensure that any licences that are issued are informed by the best information available, including taking into account any policy developments or legislative changes.

NatureScot issues licences that permit the use of lethal control of beavers only where it is necessary as a last resort. In addition, NatureScot have been proactively working with licence holders over the last 4 years to encourage a greater use of trapping and translocation wherever this is feasible. In their Beaver Management Report for 2022 NatureScot reported the proportion of beavers being removed by trapping as opposed to lethal control had increased from 28% in 2021 to 42% in 2022.

NatureScot have included the need for consideration of trapping in the Code of Practice that accompanies lethal control licences. Lethal control licences have a maximum period of two years and as a result of the most recent internal review of beaver licensing (undertaken in Spring 2023), licence holders are being asked to reapply for a new licence when their licence expires to ensure that licences are issued based on an up to date assessment of the three European Protected Species licensing tests.

The Marine Directorate’s Science, Evidence, Data and Digital Portfolio published its first assessment of genetic introgression in wild salmon in 2021: A national assessment of the influence of farmed salmon escapes on the genetic integrity of wild Scottish Atlantic salmon populations | Marine Scotland Data Publications .

The research found evidence of introgression at 23% of the sites examined. Further, the patterns of introgression detected were not uniform across the country. Rather, signs of introgression were concentrated in areas of marine aquaculture production and freshwater smolt rearing. Outside these areas, little to no genetic changes were detected. The results highlighted how important it is to prevent farmed fish escapes, to protect the integrity of wild salmon populations in areas of aquaculture production.

This was the first report of the National Introgression Programme for Scotland (NIPS), sampling took place between 2018 and 2019. NIPS is an ongoing nationwide project that is researching the link between fish farm escapes and introgression in wild salmon populations. In 2021 a second NIPS survey was conducted across the country with samples and data from this currently being analysed. A further NIPS survey was also initiated in 2023 and sample collection is now underway. Analysis of the NIPS surveys from multiple sampling years will provide a picture of temporal changes in levels of introgression.

Information about the levels of introgression in rivers flowing into Loch Shin is contained in the first assessment of genetic introgression in wild salmon in 2021: A national assessment of the influence of farmed salmon escapes on the genetic integrity of wild Scottish Atlantic salmon populations | Marine Scotland Data Publications – see pages 26/27.

Rivers from the Kyle of Sutherland area were included in the National Introgression Programme for Scotland (NIPS) survey as additional targeted sites within the Shin system. No introgression was detected in rivers in the Kyle out with the Loch Shin system, but introgression was detected in 3 of the 7 sites in the Loch Shin system itself. These three sites were those closest to freshwater smolt rearing facilities. Sampling around Loch Shin was repeated in 2021 and further sampling is being undertaken in 2023 with survey sites within the Loch Shin system now included as an integral part of the NIPS survey.

The source of escaped fish in the Shin system was examined by Marine Scotland in 2018 with the results published in a peer-reviewed scientific paper: Identification of the farm of origin of Atlantic salmon smolt escapees in a freshwater Scottish loch using single-nucleotide polymorphic markers | ICES Journal of Marine Science | Oxford Academic (oup.com) .

At this time the loch contained two fish farms which each used salmon from different strain/hatchery origins. Genetic analysis was able to identify escaped fish from both farms within the system. The non-random nature of fish collection and trapping locations prevented determination of either absolute proportions of escapees in the entire Shin system or escape proportions from each site. However, it was clear that fish from both farms had escaped.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-18168 on 6 May 2023 for details of the total area, in square kilometres, of the Marine Protected Area network designated in the Scottish continental shelf area adjacent to Scotland.

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

Our Vision for Agriculture clearly states that we will deliver emission reductions in line with our climate targets. A new Agriculture Bill will be brought forward in 2023 to enable the delivery of the Vision and we will establish a robust and coherent framework to underpin Scotland's future agriculture support regime from 2025 onwards. That framework will deliver high quality food production, climate mitigation and adaptation, and nature restoration.

We recognise that the most recent emissions envelope was missed and we are already taking action. In June, we published the second edition of the Agricultural Reform Routemap and set out what changes recipients of current farm payments will be expected to make from 2025 and beyond. This includes protection for peatlands and wetlands, and linking beef cattle payments to calving intervals to improve efficiency. This is in advance to a new Enhanced payment being introduced in 2026 which will focus on funding targeted actions for reduce greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to climate change, and protect, restore and improve nature.

We have also committed to bring forward a draft of the next Climate Change Plan later this year which will set out our policies, proposals and updated emission envelopes for meeting our statutory targets for climate change, which will include agriculture’s contribution to reducing emissions.

The Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2023 were laid before the Scottish Parliament on 16 June 2023. These regulations will bring into force most of the provisions in the Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022 that relate to the national Plan. These include sections relating to the preparation of the Plan and the requirements for inclusive communication, which enables us to go out to public consultation on the first national Good Food Nation Plan this summer.

Other sections that will come into force this December relate to giving Parliament the chance to have its say on the Good Food Nation Plan and will begin the cycle of reporting and reviewing of future Good Food Nation Plans. Finally, Section 6 which relates to the effect of the national Plan, will be commenced in separate regulations at the time of the publication of the final Plan in late 2024.

It remains the Scottish Government's intention to undertake public consultation on the Good Food Nation Plan this summer and to then lay the draft national Good Food Nation Plan before Parliament in 2024. We expect the final version will be published later in 2024, when the Food Commission is to be established. Good Food Nation Plans that are to be prepared by Local Authorities and Health Boards will follow in 2025.

The Scottish Government takes the improvement of welfare for all animals in Scotland very seriously and is keen to progress a consultation on the cage use for laying hens, alongside other animal welfare commitments

Consultation on phasing out cage use for laying hens was originally intended to be delivered jointly across the UK. However, progress on a number of important pieces of animal welfare legislation have been significantly delayed due to UK Government timetabling.

I have repeatedly expressed the Scottish Government’s disappointment and the need for urgency on a number important animal welfare issues, where joint working across GB has been previously agreed. Sadly no further clarity has been provided by UK Ministers.

While Scottish Ministers remain committed to introducing joint legislation where it is sensible and logical to do so in the interests of animal welfare, further consideration will be given to how we can best deliver our commitments going forward.

The Scottish Government is aware of the importance of protecting the welfare of fish at the time of slaughter and takes this very seriously.

We will carefully consider any recommendations made by the Animal Welfare Committee concerning the welfare of fish at the time of slaughter. However, due to a lack of clear communication from the UK Government, we do not yet have a timescale for when the report will be published.