Category: Scottish Government News
Rural Affairs, Environment and Climate Change This paper is part of the National Conversation series of papers, considering issues for rural affairs, the environment and climate change. According to it’s introduction, Scotland has already demonstrated that it can work well within the existing constitutional arrangements to deliver imaginative and successful policies to improve the quality [...]
The Marine (Scotland) Bill was introduced to the Parliament on 29 April 2009. The Rural Affairs and Environment Committee was designated the lead Committee on the Bill. No secondary committees were designated to report to the lead Committee. SSACN made a written submission and gave verbal evidence to the Committee. The following is a summary [...]
The government has produced a document giving an overview of the aims of the Scottish Marine Bill. It covers the following main areas : Marine Planning: A new statutory marine planning framework to manage the competing demands for the use of the sea whilst protecting the marine environment. Making sure that marine energy, fishing, aquaculture, [...]
Speaking from the Scottish Parliament today, after questioning the First Minister on his government’s intentions on discards, John Scott MSP, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, said: “With fish stocks around Scotland at dangerously low levels, particularly in the West of Scotland and especially in the Firth of Clyde, it is vital [...]
Highlands & Islands SNP MSP Dave Thompson has supported an initiative seeking to create a long-term sustainable future for sea angling in Scotland. The proposed Recreational Sea Angling Strategy Group, supported by the Scottish Government, would work with the industry in order to grow the sector which already represents £141 million to the Scottish economy [...]
S3M-04834 Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (Scottish National Party): Update :: Amendment by Robin Harper (Lothians) (Scottish Green Party): S3M-04834 Bill Wilson (West of Scotland) (Scottish National Party): Welcoming Sea Angling Strategy Group That the Parliament notes the estimate in the Scottish Government’s recent report, Economic Impact of Recreational Sea Angling in Scotland, that sea [...]
Dr Bill Wilson, an SNP MSP for the West of Scotland and a member of the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs and Environment Committee, has drawn attention in a Parliamentary Motion to the damaging impact of poor fisheries management and practices on fish populations in the Clyde. His Motion also highlighted the role that sea angling [...]
A study commissioned by the Scottish government earlier this year to demonstrate to the EC the financial difficulties facing fishermen as a result of the impact of the economic downturn and conservation measures has been published. Carried out by economists at industry authority Seafish, it looked at the current and future impacts on fleets of [...]
SSACN’s Give Fish A Chance (GFAC) initiative reflects the fact that many anglers are keen to do what they can to ensure the minimal impact to the environment and to the fish themselves.
Fish sustainably, only take fish for the table which have had a chance to reproduce and have respect for those you do catch.
Weighing fish by measuring them helps minimize any potential harm to the fish. Just enter the measurement (in cms) of your fish and the calculator will do the rest!
Interactive graphs and downloadable charts presenting weight for length in cms/lbs may be found here
Marine Scotland has circulated the first Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) Newsletter. The first draft of a Management Handbook has been made available for comment; a second draft is planned to be available shortly incorporating comments that have been received. SNH/JNCC have delivered scientific advice on nature conservation MPAs to ministers. This advice package, Advice to [...]
Marine renewables and offshore wind
Marine Scotland has commenced its review of the Plan for Offshore Wind Energy. It is also updating the 2007 Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of wave and tidal energy. Finalised plans for all three technologies will be adopted in 2013. The Plans will be brought together and accompanied by an integrated ‘Sustainability Appraisal’. This will include [...]
Consultation on the draft Statutory Instrument ‘The Draft Scottish Marine Regions Order 2013’ ends on 28/02/13. The paper which was published for consultation on 6 December 2012 establishes the boundary co-ordinates for Scottish Marine Regions . The consultation is seeking views on the draft legislation; the co-ordinates establishing the marine regions boundaries; the names of [...]
University of Aberdeen – workshop invitation
Workshop invitation: The value of the marine environment to divers and sea anglers We would like to invite you to take part in at least one of the two workshops that we are running in Aberdeen. These will be held on Wednesday 27th and Thursday 28th February, at Aberdeen Arts Centre (33 King Street, Aberdeen [...]
DG Mare – Atlantic Strategy–Public call
DG Mare has now issued a public call for suggestions for research and investment priorities within the Atlantic area. The intention of the call is to generate a set of research and investment priorities to be brought under an Atlantic Strategy Action Plan, expected around April 2013. The Action Plan is to help guide strategic [...]
The UK Environment Minister, Richard Benyon, has announced the start of the public consultation on Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs). The consultation document and annexes can be viewed at http://www.defra.gov.uk/consult/open/. The public consultation will run until midnight on 31 March 2013, and will give everyone with an interest in the marine environment the opportunity to provide [...]
Sharkatag – 14/15/16 June
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