Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-31312 on 3 September 2020. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

Flapper skate are recognised as a Priority Marine Feature and are a protected feature of the Loch Sunart to Sound of Jura MPA which has stringent management in place. Marine Scotland have sought advice from NatureScot (formerly SNH) on whether additional protection is necessary for this species in Scottish waters, which we will consider alongside available evidence and anticipated impacts to determine the most appropriate protection for flapper skate.

An independent study (Poseidon, 2011, does fish farming impact on tourism in Scotland) found no stated impact, for the majority of respondents, on key recreational activities or on willingness to re-visit a site from aquaculture activity or from future expansion of aquaculture.

In 2014, we published the report An Assessment of the Benefits to Scotland of Aquaculture which in which the benefits of aquaculture to Scottish communities, human capital in terms of participation in employment, as well as the skills and experience which provide ‘employment security’ was found to be most important, with financial benefit in terms of income to local ancillary businesses (particularly transport and tourism) the second most important. Negative opinions were generally low and most often related to environmental impact.

A 2017 report on the value of aquaculture to Scotland found synergies between tourism and aquaculture (Imani, 2017, Value of Scottish Aquaculture 2017). Year-round employment offered by the aquaculture sector contributes to the sustainability of family livelihoods alongside the highly seasonal nature of tourism jobs. In a recent survey for Marine Scotland, over 93% of the employment in the aquaculture companies surveyed was permanent. (Biggar Economics, 2020, Estimates of the Wider Economic Impacts of the Aquaculture Sector in Scotland)

Competing claims on natural resources can occur which is why the development of regional marine plans and Scotland’s National Marine Plan is so valuable. Use of shared space is one of the priorities being explored as we look to develop the Government’s Blue Economy Action Plan. Diversification does bring benefits, both in increasing resilience to economic shocks and in sharing infrastructure such as access roads or enhanced berthing facilities in harbours.

A). I refer the member to S5W-32303 on 30 October 2020. It is not standard practice to assess an entire sector in the framework of a cost benefit analysis. This is typically undertaken (in line with Green Book guidance) when considering specific policy interventions.

B). A report commissioned by SPICe and undertaken by SAMS Research Services Ltd (SRSL) contains a review of literature on the environmental impacts of salmon farming in Scotland, the scale of the impacts and approaches to mitigating the impacts. This report was the basis for the Parliamentary Inquiry into salmon farming in Scotland and our response can be found here: https://www.parliament.scot/S5_Rural/20190129_Cab_Sec_RE_-_SG_response_to_Cttee_report_on_salmon_farming_in_Scotland.pdf

Marine Scotland Science (MSS), on behalf of the Scottish Government and in partnership with other Scottish public sector institutes, is responsible for a broad programme of work to develop our understanding of aquaculture impacts on wild fish and the marine eco-system. Our Government field station at Shieldaig supports long-term research in this area. Formal monitoring and assessment of the environmental impact of fish farming is the statutory responsibility of SEPA and NatureScot. The Scottish Government uses the combined advice, analysis, assessment and regulation provided by those bodies and MSS to develop its policies on aquaculture. In June 2019, SEPA published its strengthened regulatory framework for marine pen fish farms followed by its first Finfish Aquaculture Sector Plan including a focus on how organic waste discharges from farms can be better regulated. A Technical Working Group is also developing a Risk Assessment Framework for assessing the level of risk posed by sea lice interactions with wild salmonids and we are currently developing proposals to improve aquaculture spatial management and planning, incorporating MSS field observation and dispersal modelling results for sea lice.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx

Understanding the economic impact of any key marine sector is an important piece of evidence for marine policy makers and the Scottish Government considers evidence from many different sources in formulating policy. All evidence has a value and the Scottish Government are engaged on a number of research projects and working groups to improve the sustainability of Scottish aquaculture, to mitigate potential environmental impact and to support further blue economy developments. Our recently published research undertaken by Biggar Economics (2020) into the estimation of the wider economic impact of aquaculture found the sector and its wider supply chain is worth around £880 million in GVA and supports 11,700 jobs across the Scottish economy and is yet another key piece of evidence amongst that wider, and expanding, evidence base.

The Scottish Government has not received any requests or expressions of interest from parties in England and Wales looking to acquire beavers.

Requests for the supply of beavers to populate projects in England and Wales do not routinely come directly to NatureScot. However, NatureScot works in collaboration with a beaver consultant and with Natural England and Natural Resources Wales.

The following projects have been granted release licences from Natural England, with NatureScot agreeing that animals can be sourced from Tayside.

Between 25 August 2020 and 5 September 2020, 16 beavers have been trapped in Tayside under licence from NatureScot.

(a) One animal was re-released locally (relating to a licence to protect public infrastructure).

(b) Eleven have been released at five different projects in England. A further four animals are currently at a holding facility until trapping of the family group is completed. Following this, the families will be moved to another release project in England.

The projects in England include biodiversity enhancement, flood resilience and science, research and education.

The specification in the Franchise Agreement requires a minimum of two cycle spaces be provided on each service. This minimum requirement is currently met by all ScotRail passenger services.

There are 66 cycle spaces available daily on Highland Mainline services operated by ScotRail. A tabulated breakdown by rolling stock and service is available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 61836).

If the Parliament indicates its support for the general principles of the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Bill at Stage 1, then, as I set out to the Finance and Constitution Committee, I will be very happy to engage with the Parliament to explore the framework within which decisions about how the power in section 1 of that Bill to make regulations corresponding to EU law might be used. I expect that such a framework will be the product of agreement with the Parliament, and would be happy that as part of that agreement we seek the views of others.