RSSCategory: Scottish Government News

Public consultation MSFD

| May 15, 2012
Public consultation MSFD

A public consultation is currently being held on implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.  As part of the consultation process, Marine Scotland plan to hold an information event on 25 May at the Barceló Edinburgh Carlton Hotel.  This will follow a similar format to the information event recently hosted by DEFRA. If you are [...]

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Save subsidies for the commercial sector

| May 14, 2012
Save subsidies for the commercial sector

Scottish Fisheries Secretary Richard Lochhead has urged the UK Government to resist cuts to the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) which he feels must continue to support Scotland’s most vulnerable fishing and rural communities. According to Mr Lochhead said: “The existing European Fisheries Fund provides crucial support for Scotland’s rural communities – with £186 [...]

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Written answer to question S4W-06371

| April 14, 2012
Written answer to question S4W-06371

10 April 2012 – Alex Fergusson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) research and (b) impact assessments have been carried out on the impact of offshore (i) wind, (ii) wave and (iii) tidal installations on the marine biodiversity of the west coast, including migrating sharks [...]

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£750,000 for IFGs

| March 21, 2012
£750,000 for IFGs

The Scottish Government is to support the delivery of a new strategy for the inshore fleet. It says that spending £750,000 in support over the next three years the revised strategy will deliver: Continued support for the IFGs, focused on the priorities identified in the management plans; Work to improve the science and data needed [...]

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The difference between a MPA and a SAC

| March 3, 2012
The difference between a MPA and a SAC

From a question by Tavish Scott MSP To ask the Scottish Executive what the differences are between a special area of conservation (SAC) and a marine protected area (MPA). Answered by Richard Lochhead (01/03/2012): Marine Protected Areas and Special Areas of Conservation. The EU Habitats Directive requires member states to designate locations for certain internationally [...]

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Fisheries Minister welcomes penalties

| February 24, 2012
Fisheries Minister welcomes penalties

17 Scottish skippers and one processing plant were fined a total of £960,000  in the High Court for offences relating to undeclared fish landings between 2002 and 2005 in contravention of sea fishing legislation. Speaking after the court hearings, Lindsey Miller, Head of the Serious and Organised Crime Division, said: “Organised crime takes many forms. [...]

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Irish-Scottish Links on Energy Study (ISLES)

| January 17, 2012
Irish-Scottish Links on Energy Study (ISLES)

ISLES is a collaborative project between the Scottish Government, the Northern Ireland Executive and the Government of Ireland. Funded mainly by the EU’s INTERREG IVA Programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), it is assessing the feasibility of creating an offshore interconnected transmission network and subsea electricity grid based on renewable energy sources [...]

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Rare species uncovered

| January 4, 2012
Rare species uncovered

A series of 15 marine surveys in 2011, covering over 2,000 square miles, have uncovered rare species and increased the knowledge of the biodiversity of Scotland’s seas. Off the west coast, very rare Fan Mussels were found – at up to 48 cm long, this is Scotland’s largest sea shell; In the waters off Tankerness [...]

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