- Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 October 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 3 November 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether the annual reporting into the incentivisation of selective fishing gear and low impact techniques, as it committed to commissioning in January 2023, will cover the proportion of low-impact fishing allocated for each quota stock in relation to the entire allocation.
Answer
The report will set out various facts in relation to quota allocated to incentivise selective fishing gear and low impact techniques such as: the number of vessels involved; tonnages of various species caught; area of landing and proportion for each quota stock in relation to the entire allocation for said stock.
- Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 October 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 3 November 2023
To ask the Scottish Government when the first annual report in relation to the incentivisation of selective fishing gear and low impact techniques will be published, in light of its commitment in January 2023 to commission such work.
Answer
In January 2023, the Scottish Government agreed to produce a retrospective report in relation to the allocation of fish quota to vessels fishing by means associated with a lower environmental impact.
The report will review how quota was allocated to help incentivise selective fishing gear and low impact techniques, and other relevant factors such as the level of uptake of quota, where it was landed across the Scottish coast, and number of vessels involved. We plan to publish this report in the first half of 2024.
I would also take this opportunity to highlight that the Scottish Government recently published a consultation on how we allocate a portion of our fishing quota. This consultation seeks views on how the Additional Quota Scotland receives following the implementation of the Trade and Co-operation Agreement with the European Union and the UK becoming an independent Coastal State are distributed throughout Scotland.
The consultation is available at: https://consult.gov.scot/marine-scotland/fish-stocks-allocation-of-additional-quota/ . It closes on 11 January 2024.
- Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Wednesday, 01 November 2023
-
Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 9 November 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what funding it is providing through the next phase of the Learning Estate Investment Programme for schools in the South Scotland region.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 9 November 2023
- Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Monday, 16 October 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 30 October 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what measures have been implemented to manage non-native gamebird releases where there is potential for highly pathogenic avian influenza transmission from infected gamebirds to (a) native wild birds, (b) other wildlife, (c) dogs and (d) the shooting community.
Answer
The Scottish Government works closely with the game sector to encourage best practice biosecurity measures by keepers of poultry and other captive birds. Advice has been issued frequently through a number of formats including webinars, emails, regular interface with stakeholders such as game industry representatives, and publication of online guidance.
A Scottish Avian Influenza in wild bird Task Force was established in 2022 to coordinate a joint response to the outbreak in wild birds. On 11 August Ministers launched the Wild Bird HPAI Response Plan that sets out how the Scottish Government and its partners will respond to any further outbreaks of HPAI in wild birds in Scotland.
Communications have also included guidance on gov.scot for pet dogs and working dogs. Scottish Government has also worked with the game industry to develop standing guidance on avian influenza and game birds.
- Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Monday, 16 October 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 30 October 2023
To ask the Scottish Government how many gamebird rearing and release facilities have been found to be infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza in 2023.
Answer
In 2023 six game bird premises were declared with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Scotland. These were:
- Near Portsoy, Aberdeenshire, confirmed 08 August 2023 (AIV 2023/29)
- Near Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, confirmed 14 August 2023 (AIV 2023/41)
- Near Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, confirmed 14 August 2023 (AIV 2023/42)
- Near Kirkcudbright, Dumfries and Galloway, confirmed 14 August 2023 (AIV 2023/43)
- Near Kirkcudbright, Dumfries and Galloway, confirmed 17 August 2023 (AIV 2023/44)
- Near Forfar, Angus, confirmed 18 August 2023 (AIV 2023/45)
- Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 October 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 30 October 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve biosecurity, for (a) grouse, (b) other wildlife, (c) dogs and (d) the shooting community, in light of the discovery of a highly pathogenic avian influenza in a red grouse in the Scottish Borders.
Answer
A Scottish Avian Influenza in wild bird Task Force was established in 2022, which brought together colleagues from Scottish Government, NatureScot, the RSPB, the British Trust for Ornithology, Public Health Scotland, and Local Authorities to coordinate a joint response to the outbreak in wild birds. On 11 August Ministers launched the Scottish Wild Bird Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Response Plan that sets out how the Scottish Government and its partners will respond to any further outbreaks of HPAI in wild birds in Scotland. The NatureScot Avian Influenza sub-committee recently highlighted the limited options that are available to authorities in dealing with HPAI in wild birds.
The Scottish Government has published guidance on gov.scot for pet dogs and working dogs. Scottish Government has also worked with the game industry to develop standing guidance on avian influenza and game birds, whilst Scotland’s HPAI Task Force has provided guidance to land managers.
- Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 October 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 30 October 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many gamebirds, broken down by species, have been destroyed at rearing and release facilities due to highly pathogenic avian influenza infection in 2023.
Answer
In the previous avian influenza outbreak season (October 2022 to September 2023) 31,570 gamebirds have either succumbed to avian influenza or have been humanely culled for animal welfare and disease control reasons, due to being present at an infected premises. 19,570 of these birds were pheasants, and 12,000 were partridges. There have been no instances of gamebirds infected with HPAI in the current AI outbreak season which began on 01 October 2023.
- Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Monday, 16 October 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 30 October 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what arrangements are in place for the early detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza on grouse moors.
Answer
In Scotland (and across Great Britain) the GB Dead Wild Bird Surveillance Scheme, administered by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) on behalf of the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and Defra (England), allows members of the public to report dead wild birds (via a helpline and/or online reporting tool), and for a selection of these birds (based on a triage criteria) to be tested for avian influenza. The purpose of the scheme is to capture information on the general location and strains of avian influenza that might be prevalent in GB. This data then helps government build up a picture of the current risks, and shapes how they then respond in policy terms.
In addition to this, NatureScot have a network of reporters across Scotland who provide early intelligence on unusual mortality levels in wild bird species. It is also recognised by Scottish Government that managers of grouse moors in Scotland may regularly carry out their own health checks of wild grouse across the summer months.
- Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 October 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 30 October 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many release facilities where cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza infection have been detected (a) had already released gamebirds into the natural environment and (b) were open to wild birds either by being unroofed or through pop holes being open, in 2023.
Answer
Epidemiological investigations at each of the six infected premises (IPs) involving gamebird establishments, declared in Scotland in 2023, revealed that all of the birds involved were open to direct or indirect contact with wild birds, either through unroofed netted release pens, open potholes or, in the cases of fully netted release pens and housed birds, through holes in the netting or walls.
- Asked by: Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 17 October 2023
-
Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 30 October 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what capacity its agencies have to regulate the release of gamebirds in instances when there is potential for disease transfer to wildlife.
Answer
The Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (Scotland) Order 2006 prohibits the release of gamebirds in any Protection, Surveillance or Low Pathogenic Restricted Zones, established around an Infected Premises. This Order also provides Ministers with the powers to prohibit the release of game birds in Temporary Control Zones and Temporary Movement Restriction Zones (where disease is yet to be confirmed) based on a risk assessment of the specific disease situation and premises particulars. When kept there is also a legal requirement to report suspicion of notifiable avian disease in game birds.
The Avian Influenza (H5N1 in Wild Birds) (Scotland) Order 2007 prohibits the release of game birds in a Wild Bird Control Area or a Wild Bird Monitoring Area. Furthermore, Licencing requirements dictate that where Special Protected Area (SPA) or Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) are designated for vulnerable species, consent from NatureScot is required for the release of pheasants. One of the factors considered in this licensing assessment is control of Notifiable Avian Diseases (NADs).
