The next item of business is a debate on motion 6, 8, 8, 9, in the name of Mary Gougeon on Scotland's approach to 2022 postal states negotiations securing principled sustainable outcomes. I invite members who wish to speak in the debate to please press their request to speak buttons now, and I call on Mary Gougeon to speak to and move the motion up to 15 minutes, cabinet secretary. Thank you, Presiding Officer. Today's debate is a welcome opportunity to set out Scotland's approach to this year's fisheries negotiations. This is my second year leading Scotland through the annual negotiations and it's a task that I don't take lightly, and one in which my key priority is always to protect Scotland's interests. I want to continue to build on the achievements gained in 2022, which saw negotiated outcomes across a range of forums providing Scotland with over £400 million of fishing opportunities. Fishing is a vital sector to Scotland and to our coastal communities. It's an industry that supplies us with a healthy and nutritious source of protein, and the positions that we take need to reflect what we're currently living through, and a time when people across Scotland are being affected by the most severe economic crisis in a generation. Decisions that we make should recognise the cultural importance of fishing through maintaining and where possible strengthening coastal communities and livelihoods alongside the requirement for fish stocks to reach and maintain sustainable levels. It's vital that we set appropriate fishing opportunities using the best scientific advice available, which balance environmental, economic and social considerations. The on-going cost of living crisis is just one of the many challenges that has impacted on the Scottish fishing industry and the wider seafood sector in recent years. We can't forget the on-going impacts of leaving the EU and, of course, recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. In those uncertain times, it's important that we deliver appropriate and timely negotiated outcomes to give the fleets and processing industries assurance of their fishing opportunities for the start of 2023. Before I move on to speak about the annual negotiations in more detail, I'd like to acknowledge the on-going and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. I know that I'll be joined by all members in the chamber today in condemning the actions of Russia. Scotland stands with Ukraine and for democracy, human rights and the rule of law at home and abroad. We enter negotiations this year against the backdrop of great uncertainty and global change. The majority of our fish stocks are not managed in isolation, but in partnership with our coastal state neighbours. Scotland has taken a strong stance on engagement with Russia in fisheries negotiations during 2022. We have advocated for their exclusion from discussions where mechanisms allow for this to happen and, in consultations where the Russian Federation is also present, we are actively working to ensure that they see no benefit from those negotiations. We have supported the UK in making clear statements and in not co-signing fisheries agreements where the Russian Federation are also signatories. That is an important principle, which Scotland will carry forward throughout this negotiating season and until Russia's atrocious actions have seized. Moving back to our approach this year, it is important that we continue to be a reasonable and positive partner both within the UK and with like-minded coastal states, aiming to achieve agreements of mutual benefit to all. With the exception of two stocks, every quota is shared with partners and negotiated to reach agreed positions. It is not a simple Scotland-only choice and that is the nature of fish stocks in our wide-ranging marine environment. The Scottish Government's overarching approach to the annual negotiations will not come as a surprise and remains consistent and in line with our already well-established principles. My hope and expectation is that those will continue to be supported by members across the chamber here today. As ever, our management approach will be informed by the best available scientific advice, socioeconomic considerations and choke risk, as well as being underpinned by national and international commitments. I can assure the chamber that this commitment to responsible fisheries management, while remaining alive to the socioeconomic impact on coastal communities, will apply where there is reduced advice as well as increased advice. In some cases, there will need to be a cut in catches to allow the stocks to recover and for a meaningful package of spatial, temporal and technical management measures to complement any cut and ensure a rapid recovery. During last year's debate, I highlighted the principle of using total allowable catch constraints as a management tool. Our intention is to use them again this year as one of our broad principles and where that is appropriate. I will be happy to take Mr Carson's intervention. I take on board the importance of ensuring fisheries, environment, coastal communities, social and economic, but I do not agree that the Bute House agreement damaged the reputation between the Scottish Fisheries and the Scottish Government, which was played out in the Clyde cod box debacle. As the member has highlighted, as I have outlined, this is a very complex area in relation to fisheries. We have got a number of considerations that we need to take into different account. I said previously when I appeared in front of the committee, I have also said in this chamber that in relation to that, of course, we identified that it could have been handled better and we have worked to improve relationships since that time. Again, I recognise that as I have done previously. I am most grateful to the cabinet secretary for giving way and commander for the work that she is doing in leading those negotiations, as I have done for several years. Can I ask whether she agrees with me that one of the aspects that is causing major damage to fisheries in Scotland is the tough, uncompromising, hard attitude taken by the UK towards immigration, towards crew that often come from other parts of the world and are essential to the inshore fleet, for example, in Clyde, but also around the coast? That immigration problem is what is causing the damage to our industry. I agree with the member that that is indeed a critical issue. I see that right across the fishing industry, the processing sector as well, and it is due to the hard Brexit that was imposed on us. Coming back to the use of total allowable catch, the reason that we adopt that in most situations that are a large year-to-year fluctuation in TAC undermines the sustainability and stability of the fishing industry with a constraint that looks to mitigate those fluctuations. However, where stocks have taken consistent cuts across a number of years and where the advice allows for this, larger changes in TAC might be desirable. Moving to the negotiations themselves, this year has already been a busy time. TACs have been held throughout the year on management measures for some key stocks, and that is now coupled with the annual negotiation cycle that commenced last month. As I speak, my negotiators are in Brussels for bilateral and trilateral consultations with the EU and Norway, who are two of our closest fishing neighbours. Consultations have already been held for coastal state pelagic stocks and the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission with the UK Fero bilateral scheduled for December. I know that stakeholders from both the fishing and environmental sectors have been engaging with my teams throughout, and I really want to thank them for that on-going input, because, as always, their advice is critical in helping us to make decisions as we seek balanced agreements to protect Scottish interests. I am encouraged by the positive scientific advice this year for some of our key demersal stocks, and this is evidence that our management actions are having the desired impacts. It is my hope and expectation that this will help to facilitate agreements with other coastal states across the flora in which we negotiate those stocks. To try and bring that to life, I would like to highlight some of Scotland's priorities, covering the suite of negotiations that we are involved in. On our trilateral negotiations with the EU and Norway, I am pleased by the positive advice this year for North Sea Cod and SAFE to important stocks for the Scottish fleet. The advice for North Sea Cod in particular follows a challenging few years. In 2020, the fisheries management and conservation group agreed to a range of management measures packaged together as the national cod avoidance plan. The plan was developed by Marine Scotland in partnership with industry, and I want to pay tribute to those fishers and environmental groups that worked with Marine Scotland on the recovery of this iconic stock. This is testament to what can be achieved through strong co-management. Although the picture for Cod and SAFE is looking positive, I am concerned about the immediate outlook for northern shelf monkfish, a stock that we manage bilaterally with the EU. The advice for this stock is for a 30 per cent decrease on the 2022 tax based on a data limited assessment. Mitigating this cut is a top priority for Scotland in the EU bilateral negotiations, and we are looking at a number of negotiating strategies here. A decrease of the size, when abundance, at least in some areas, suggests that the stock may not be in need of such action, will have significant impacts on some of our key ports, particularly in the highlands and islands. For some vessels, it equates to a 20 per cent loss in revenue, and given the cost crisis, that is of course a significant concern. A further priority will also be to work in partnership to resolve the assessment challenges that everyone faces with the stock. A wide range of other stocks will be discussed during the EU bilateral, and, as always, the scientific advice shows a mixed picture. I am really pleased to hear that the north-east Atlantic spur dog stock is beginning to recover from its status as a prohibited species. When I meet with fishers, particularly in the Clyde, I hear their concerns about the high levels of unavoidable by-catch of the stock. We now have scientific advice, which mirrors what is happening on the fishing grounds. The stock has been a prohibited species for five years, and its transition to a directed fishery will need to follow a robust process. It is vital that we take responsible and precautionary steps to ensure that the recovery of the stock is not short-lived. I am pleased that we were able to reach bilateral agreements with both Norway and the Faroe Islands for 2022, both of which provide important opportunities for Scottish vessels. In particular, the exchange of opportunities with Fero provides an important release valve for our vessels away from the North Sea. I am aware that there were some technical challenges towards the start of the year, which impacted on the fishery in Faroe's waters. However, that is not unexpected for the first year of a new arrangement, and I am pleased that the Scottish industry now has been able to utilise those quotas. I see significant benefit in maintaining and building upon the long-established relationships with our neighbouring fishing nations. For 2023, I have instructed officials to seek to agree bilateral arrangements that are balanced, fair and bringing in stocks of most need for our industry, not only between the parties but also within the UK. Last but not least, are the coastal state consultations on shared, highly migratory pelagic stocks, mackerel, blue-whiting and atlantoscandi and herring, or ash. Those are of key importance to Scotland and we are the majority quota holder in the UK. Unfortunately, there are currently no agreed sharing arrangements for those stocks, which means that unilateral quotas bring the total catch limit above agreed limits. That is not a situation that I can condone in its imperative that everything is done to ensure appropriate management to protect the long-term sustainability of the fisheries. However, I am happy to report that 2022 has seen positive strides forward for North East Atlantic mackerel. Over the course of the year, officials from all coastal states have been engaging and have met a number of times, working towards agreeing a comprehensive sharing arrangement. As Scotland's single most valuable stock, that is a top priority for us and I am pleased by the progress that has been made but there is still further work to be done. I have instructed officials to continue to put their full energy behind those stocks and every effort will be made to reach agreement as soon as possible. Scotland will continue to strive for agreement on shares, which are fair, based on robust evidence, reflecting the distribution of the stocks and with as many parties signed up as possible. That will in turn provide the long-term stability and management that we will all wish to see for those stocks. In addition, parties have also agreed to continue discussions on agreeing sharing arrangements for blue, whiting and ash early in 2023. While discussions are on-going, it is more important than ever that appropriate catch limits are set for 2023 for all three stocks. Scotland is fully committed to promoting sustainable fishing and will continue to act responsibly in that regard, aligning with the future fisheries management strategy and, as is underlined by the quotas that we have set in the absence of sharing arrangements, which continue to respect historic levels. As we move through the annual negotiation cycle, those commitments and objectives will be at the forefront of our decision making. We will continue to seek the best outcome for Scotland's environment, fishing and dress and our coastal communities. We will take robust principled decisions based on the best available scientific information. We will work closely—I am drawing to a close, so no, I won't take an intervention—and we will work closely and collaboratively with stakeholders and coastal state partners to ensure the sustainable utilisation of those important stocks in the long term. I now call on Colin Smyth to speak to and move amendment 6889.1 up to 11 minutes, please. Thank you, Presiding Officer. In the last few days in my South Scotland region, a fisherman tragically died in hospital after being rescued from his capsized trawler in Loose Bay just off Port William. I know that all our thoughts will be with his family and his friends. That tragedy is a reminder to us all of the dangers faced by our fishing fleet and the courage of those who work in the industry. Every day, Scotland's fishers go to sea to put that healthy quality, low-carbon food on our tables. They do so in the most challenging conditions, in the most dangerous of occupations, and for that we owe each and every one of them a great debt of gratitude. At a time, families are facing a cost of living crisis and the world is facing a climate and nature catastrophe, putting high-quality, affordable food on our tables and, in a sustainable way, has never been more important. Those fishers deserve not just their gratitude but also our support. I wish the Scottish Government well and secure in the best possible agreement for the fishing sector and the environment in the array of annual negotiations taking place and when it comes to the distribution of quotas secured at those negotiations. The Scottish Government may have chosen not to deliver a Scottish Fisheries Act and instead rely on the framework set out in the UK Fisheries Act even in relation to devolved areas but crucial decisions on quota distribution and fisheries management in Scotland still rest with the Scottish Government as they did before Brexit and it is Scottish ministers who decide how our seas are used. When this debate was held last year at the time of the 2021 coastal state negotiations, I set out five tests that Labour would judge the Government on in relation to the establishment and distribution of sustainable fishing quotas and the management of our seas. The first test is whether those fishing quotas negotiated and subsequently distributed are within maximum sustainable yield. Delivering against fixed MSY targets in mixed fisheries, where individual stocks are subject to fluctuating scientific advice, is difficult. I accept that and I know that ICES advice is often challenged despite it being based on the best data and fisheries science available. However, as the cabinet secretary said this year, some of that advice is positive, including an 82 per cent increase in the catch advice for North Sea cod, which will be welcomed, albeit from a low tonnage. However, when that advice is not positive, while it is important to seek to mitigate the impact as best we can when it comes to setting those tax, and that will certainly be the case, as the cabinet secretary stated with regards to munkfish, what we cannot afford to do is to continually exceed maximum yields. That is not sustainable. It does not meet sustainable development goal 14, and it is against the Scottish Government's own national marine plan. There has been some progress in delivering quotas in line with maximum yields, but Government scientists at the Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science analysed 2022 quota against scientific advice. If we look at the 11 stocks used by the Scottish Government and the Scottish Marine Assessment in 2020, only two stocks haddock in some areas of the North Sea and West of Scotland passed the test. Haig, Mackerel, Herring cod and Whiten in various stocks all failed. Of course, we want to have the best people to answer that, or the fishermen themselves. We need to build that trust in the relationship between the fishermen and scientists in the Government to make sure that total allowable catches are based on the best evidence available. Finlay Carson makes an important point. We need to listen to our fishers, but we also need to listen and work together with the scientists who set out that basis for the advice that it is given, because although we all want the highest quota possible for our fishers, overfishing means lower, not higher quotas in the future. It depletes our public fish assets and reduces the amount available in the long term, and that is ultimately damaging to the fishers that we want to support. The Labour's second test is whether the actions of ministers are delivering a fairer and my more diverse distribution of quota allocation in Scotland. Quota continues to be handed out based on who has fixed quota allocations historically, given to those who had previously caught fish, but subsequent trading has meant that ownership is now highly consolidated. For example, four companies control 55 per cent of the North Sea macro quota. We need a more diverse allocation of quota and we need more focus on who will deliver for our environment, for jobs and for local economies. When my colleague Rassawa wrote to the First Minister about Labour's five tests in her reply, she acknowledged the concentration of quota ownership and stated in a quote, in recent years, we have acted to allocate a greater share of macro quota to our inshore vessels to be caught by hand line. However, the 2021 landings data show that this represents just 1 per cent of the total macro landings by Scottish boats. The majority, 96 per cent, continues to be made by the big pelagic trawlers, so on the second test of whether the Scottish Government is serious about a fairer, more diverse distribution of quota, it's another fail. Labour's third test is the principle that Scottish seafood should be landed in Scotland. I appreciate that price or processing capacity can often be a driver in decisions about where catch is landed, but the fact is that far too much of Scotland's seafood is landed abroad, which means that Scotland's economy, food system, jobs and coastal communities are being bypassed. We've seen a consistent decline in the volume of fish that's landed by Scottish ships into Scottish ports since the 1980s. In 2021, just 46 per cent of the macro caught by Scottish boats was actually landed in Scotland and just 63 per cent of the heron. For other less well-known species such as Blue Whiten, the numbers are even worse. Just 29 per cent caught by Scottish boats using Scottish quota was actually landed in Scotland. The rest went directly to foreign ports, mostly to be processed into fish meal. Scottish ministers claim to be addressing this through a clause in the fishing licence, but that clause is so weak that it only requires boats to land 55 per cent of their catch in Scotland, dropping to 30 per cent if the species is mackerel or heron. That's much weaker than the clause being implemented by Defran England, which requires that 70 per cent of catches are landed to UK ports. On the test of whether Scottish catch is landed in Scottish boats, there's another fail for the Scottish Government, and that's letting down Scotland's coastal communities. Labour's crucial fourth test is whether quota is being used to incentivise a change towards lower impact and less by-catch forms of fishing. We know that some fishing methods cause serious environmental harm. Scotland's marine assessment in 2020 found that fishing was the most significant and widespread pressure on Scotland's seas, in particular bottom trawlin and other mobile contact and fishing methods have led to widespread changes to the marine ecosystem. The UK Fisheries Act establishes a duty—a duty—on Scottish ministers to, and I quote, incentivise the use of selective fishing gear and the use of fishing techniques that have reduced impact on the environment when distributing quota and effort limits. That's simply not happening. There's no conditions regarding lower impact of selectivity being applied to quota distribution. In fact, the Government's future catching policy appears to be deregulating and discarding and removing any disincentive to throw away dead fish. The test of whether quotas are being used to incentivise a change towards forms of fishing that have a lower impact and less by-catch is another fail. I would ask the cabinet secretary even if she isn't inclined to support Labour's amendment today and therefore support that sustainability that we want to see. At the very least, will she agree to Labour's call for the Government to report on an annual basis on what action it is taking to meet the test and meet the legal requirement under section 25 of the 2020 Fisheries Act. Labour's fifth and final test is whether the actions of Government lead to a fairer share of catching opportunities being secured for Scottish fishers. Fishing provides thousands of jobs in Scotland. It's home to 70 per cent of the UK fishing sector. Those jobs are often in their most fragile rural communities. It generates almost £300 million a year in Scotland in gross value added, with the fish processing sector contributing another £400 million. However, both figures haven't increased markedly in the last four or five years and are unlikely to do so, not least because of the poor trade incorporation agreement with the EU, which will mean little change before 2026 and who knows what beyond. The sector faces many challenges, increasing energy costs, higher interest payments and loans for the purchase of vessel, rising costs of supplies as inflation continues to spiral out of control difficulties, accessing workforce and understandable growing wage demands. I know from the meeting that I had with the Scottish Fishermen's Federation in Aberdeen recently a particular concern exists over a spatial squeeze, not least as a result of the growth of offshore wind. I don't agree with the way in which the Green SNP Government lees in Scotland sea beds for offshore wind on the cheap to mainly foreign-owned multinationals, with no meaningful conditionality on supply chain jobs. Offshore wind is vital if we are to meet our net zero ambitions. However, when we are offshore in wind, we shouldn't also be offshoring the profits and offshoring the jobs. We should be working with fishers to mitigate the concerns that they have over the fact that, while in 2000, fishing boats were excluded from less than 1 per cent of UK waters, the concern is that, by 2050, from the Scottish Fishermen's Federation, we could see fishing effort excluded from no less than 49 per cent of the exclusive economic zone around the UK as a whole, up to 56 per cent in Scotland. Given the plan for more marine protected areas and offshore wind farms, the Scottish Government really needs to be clearer on how it will mitigate and compensate for the impact on our fisheries. Marine Scotland's failure to deliver the 2015 national marine plan means that there is no proper spatial planning for fishing. I hope that, when closing today, the cabinet secretary will tell us what assessment has been made of the displacement of fishing areas as more marine protected areas and offshore wind is developed and when we will actually see that proper spatial plan for fishing. There is little within the Government's motion that I disagree with, so Labour will be supporting it. However, I move the amendment in my name in an effort to ensure that we see more action from Government to support our fishing industry and we will continue to assess and hold to account ministers on our five tests on whether negotiations and quota distributions deliver a better deal for smaller boats and low-impact fishing, whether they lead to more catch being landed in Scottish ports and, ultimately, whether they genuinely deliver a sustainable fishing industry for the benefit of our environment and all our coastal communities. I thank all those who work in our fisheries sector, whether they be the thousands of fish that are employed on Scottish-registered vessels, those who work in our processing firms and those who work to promote our fantastic fish and shellfish. In my constituency of Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, a statue at the seafront in EyeMouth commemorates the lost lives of 189 fishermen from EyeMouth, BurnMouth, Cove and Caldingham, which were snatched in bleak conditions on 14 October 1981, known as Black Friday, reminding us that our fishermen risk their lives in all weathers so that we can have food on our plates, and we must never forget that. We must make sure that Scotland's fishing industry gets the support that it deserves. Every year, a high bar is set for the expectations of the annual fisheries negotiations, without a doubt securing the best possible fishing opportunities for our Scottish fleets is key, while committing to fishing sustainably in line with our national and international commitments. To help all parties to achieve the total achievable catch for the year ahead, the international council for the exploration of the seas provides data and science. Whilst that is generally accepted, according to the Scottish Fishermen's Federation, what is provided makes assumptions and contains uncertainties resulting in inaccuracies. To prove a point in previous years, cod-cote quotas were cut dramatically. However, ICs have now recognised that cod are more abundant in the northern part of the North Sea and have recommended an increase of 82 per cent in catch advice. Another key commercial stock for part of the Scottish Whitefish fleet is monkfish, but according to the SFF, one of the priorities for the Scottish fleet for 2023 will be mitigating the 30 per cent cut in catch advice recommended by ICs for monkfish. They say that the cut is based on an inadequate assessment categorisation that has resulted in overly precautionary approach that does not reflect stock fluctuations. While we should pay attention to the data and science from international bodies, it is absolutely vital that we listen to those who carefully know most about the seas. We should put the most stock in what Scotland's fishing sector tells us. When discussing total allowable catch with Shetland fishermen, they agreed that often listening and accepting help from the fishing sector helps with the overall picture, ultimately supporting what scientific model predicts, but also accounting for changes happening right now in our seas. We heard exactly that point from representatives at a round table held by the rain committee just a few weeks ago. Not forgetting the pelagic stocks, there are also talks going on between the coastal states on mackerel sharing, and both UK and Scottish Governments are working very hard to secure a good outcome for Scotland. Ultimately, it is important that the UK and those who fish this stock sustainably are not undermined by the actions of other coastal states who perhaps do not fish as sustainably. The Scottish industry has been actively improving sustainability through measures such as improving the selectivity of fishing gear, making significant investment and commitment to gathering data and science, and an industry-led fisheries observer scheme that provides enhanced data for stock assessment and provides practical advice and support for science projects that require direct observation at sea on commercial vessels. In 2020, an estimated 69 per cent of commercial fish stocks were fished at sustainable levels in Scottish Water, which represents an increase of three percentage points from 2019 and 35 percentage points from 2000. The percentage fished sustainably in 2020 is the highest level recorded since this data collection began and demonstrates the on-going recovery of commercial fish stocks. We will see the joint fisheries statement published, I believe, tomorrow. Imminently, that will set out how the fisheries administrations across the UK will seek to achieve the objectives of the Fisheries Act based on the three key pillars, environmental, social and economic sustainability. The Scottish industry is committed to fishing sustainably, as I have said, and the evidence in the national performance indicators shows the evidence of that. The Scottish Government must demonstrate that the Scottish fishing industry has a sustainable future through protection of space for fishing in Scotland's seas. I am moving on to the issue of crowded seas that Colin Smyth has brought up. We know that Scotland's seas are becoming increasingly crowded. Future demand for space in our seas by offshore renewables and marine conservation areas will create challenges. A couple of weeks ago, the cabinet secretary and I attended the Scottish Fishermen's Federation launch of its report into spatial squeeze. Analysis shows that, over the next 30 years, in the worst-case scenario, trawling could be restricted from over half of Scotland's share of the UK's exclusive economic zone. By 2050, fishing activity could be excluded from 45 per cent of the EEZ. There are real issues with our crowded seas that are affecting the entire industry, from fisheries to ports and harbours to fishermen. We need to make sure that both of Scotland's Governments appreciate and tackle those issues. The industry faces a major challenge in the medium to longer term, though, increased spatial pressures on fishing. The hugely increased competition for space in the marine environment, as I have said, is a serious concern. We know that there is a real risk that the spatial squeeze increasingly displaces Scotland's fishing fleet. Politicians from all parties must make sure that the industry is supported at this very challenging time. There is much work to be done to reduce the impact as much as possible. Food security is every bit as important as energy security. We all agree that our collective ambition to reach net zero must not mean zero fishing. As Sheila Keith from Shetland's Fishermen's Association said, the SNP Government needs to be more transparent and follow the science, not only to tackle climate change but to tackle the challenges in our seas. However, I would challenge every party in the chamber today that we can do both. We can tackle climate change and help Scottish fisheries to survive and thrive. The Bute House agreement by the Greens and the SNP to secure a mandate for an independence referendum agreed a designation of at least 10 per cent of Scotland's seas as highly protected marine areas, where essentially nothing will be permitted. Whilst I understand the goal of that is to help our environment, it must also be practical. If we are forced to turn abroad to source food, particularly to import more fish, then that will actually have a detrimental effect on our efforts to reach climate change goals. It will not help us to reach our climate ambitions if we end up relying on food that has been flown in from thousands of miles away. Food that might not be sourced as sustainably as the Scottish fishing industry produces, as well as increasing the cost to consumers, we could end up hurting our own efforts to reduce carbon emissions if we end up leaving a larger carbon footprint by buying fish from overseas instead of using the brilliant catch that is sitting on our doorsteps. Tackling climate change and supporting our fishing industry must go hand in hand. It is essential that the objectives of this SNP-Green coalition are evidence-based and give a clear direction but does not come at the expense of producing healthy climate smart food with low carbon footprint right here on our doorstep. Clearly there are tensions around the Bute House agreement as demonstrated by the catastrophic Clyde closure of which Elaine White said that the Government's approach had fallen short of what it had been expected. Mary Gougeon accepts that she has learned lessons and that the co-management principles and practice perhaps should have been done better. I think that Mary Gougeon has apologised for that and has acknowledged that, but we need to continue to learn those lessons and remember that every time we think about the inflections or the bureaucracy that we put on our Scottish fishermen. Later in an FOI, Mary Gougeon acknowledged that she felt uncomfortable with reviewing the ban and due to the arrangement with the Scottish Green Party. Another email showed Lorna Slater's involvement in signing off the ban. We just need to be very careful when we are making decisions that are ideological rather than for practical reasons. Instead of looking at the way that political decisions are made, perhaps it is best to do what is good for Scotland's climate change goals and our fishing industry. I sincerely hope that the Government will reflect on that in its decision making and the unintended consequences of putting politics first could be, again, catastrophic for our fishing fleet. What matters most is a good deal for Scottish fishing, not a good deal for the Greens. In conclusion, we wish the Scottish Government well and the annual negotiations for fishing opportunities for 2023. We hope to act in the national interest rather than the interest of the new coalition. We all want to secure the best outcome for Scotland right now. We also want to hear the Scottish Government that will not sell out fisheries for this coalition. They must listen to the voices of fishermen in coastal communities. They must recognise the need for sensible coexistence that ensures a vibrant fishing sector to protect key low-carbon, high-protein food and the climate goals that the fishing industry is contributing to. We must protect food security and energy security as not conflicting goals. They should be both pursued in union. We will not be supporting the Labour amendment today because we agree with the SNP amendment, but unfortunately the Labour amendment, although most of it is acceptable, does not acknowledge that what they are asking needs to have the voices of Scottish fishermen involved in that process to engage with them so that they can work together to improve their already-improving fishing in a sustainable way and meeting climate change goals. Sadly, we will not be supporting the Labour amendment today, but I thank you very much. Ms Hamilton, I now call on Beatrice Wishart in six minutes. I too want to take this opportunity to pay tribute to all our fishermen and the dangerous job that they do and all the work that the fishing industry does, both offshore and onshore, to put food on our tables. I also want to acknowledge the impact of ever-increasing energy costs on the industry. Last year, I highlighted that an increasing number of fishery scientists were growing uneasy over the international council for the exploration of the seas, or ICES, stock assessments. ICES stated that it was willing to engage with the fishing industry to improve data collection and the way in which the data is interpreted. The fishing sector expressed concern about the time that this may take and subsequent impacts such as bankruptcies for some fishers. There are still concerns about the accuracy, certainty and assumptions that are made in the data, but I am pleased that there has been now a reversal in North Sea cod catches reflecting the observations of the fishing sector and catch recommendations have been increased by 82 per cent. New official assessments from ICES show key commercial stocks of cod and haddock at their highest level for decades. Without the reality of observations by the fishing sector being recognised sooner, the industry will continue to feel that policymakers are distant and lack understanding. By contrast, and as the cabinet secretary has already referenced, mitigating the 30 per cent cut in monkfish will be a priority in negotiations, as there are concerns that this cut is overly precautionary. On north-east Atlantic mackerel, the Scottish Government's efforts to reduce unilateral total allowable catch are welcome to ensure that the UK fleet is not undermined in fishing this stock sustainably. In future, we will be building more at sea infrastructure such as offshore winds as we head towards net zero targets. Those will need cables running to the shore and floating wind turbines will need cables to anchor them in place. Designating subsea cable corridors will allow certain routes for cables, allowing vessels to manoeuvre safely and fishing areas without danger to the crew or damage to cables. Those designated routes will need to be created with all voices heard, including our at sea renewables sector and our fishing fleet. I will say a little more about subsea cable corridors later. Members of the fishing sector have often raised with me their concerns about a lack of understanding by policymakers of the concerns of spatial squeeze. Scotland's seas are big, but they are also finite. The fishing sector will continue to help us on our route to net zero, providing quality, healthy, protein-rich food, just as it has done for centuries, but only if there is space in the seas to help to achieve that. It is not as simple as a boat moving to a different part of the sea to catch the same fish, nor can one space be guaranteed to be forever a spawning spot. Unintended consequences of displacement could include greater gear conflict, fishing and pristine grounds and inshore vessels being forced further offshore. Presiding Officer, it is not a just transition to an encourage and enable one sector to the significant detriment of others. The Scottish Fisherman's Federation, June 22, report on spatial squeeze demonstrates different scenarios, and, as other members have highlighted, one forecast that, by 2050, over 50 per cent of Scotland's seas could be restricted for fishing. That would be catastrophic for the fishing crew and their families involved in the industry. In a recent poll commissioned by the Scottish Fisherman's Federation, 80 per cent of respondents said that both energy and food security are important, three quarters agreeing that the Government should not squeeze out fishing. Both climate-smart energy and a sector providing healthy, sustainable, low-carbon food can coexist. I am grateful to Beatrice Wishart for giving way. Does she agree with me that it is absolutely essential that, when any new cable has been proposed to be laid underground in connection with the energy or other requirements that she mentions, it is essential that fishermen and their representatives are fully engaged and represented right from the start, the very start, and that that engagement should continue unabated and with complete engagement all throughout those negotiations, with all relevant information being shared with fishermen. Because the absence of such engagement in some instances has, according to my understanding, led to unnecessary difficulties arising, which perhaps could have been avoided if there had been that full engagement from the first place and thereafter throughout. Beatrice Wishart, I fully agree with the intervention from Fergus Ewing and I also agree that it should never be just a tick box exercise. Last month, Shetland suffered a telecommunications outage and in a response letter that I received from the Scottish Government, it was stated and I quote, the incident was then caused by the primary cable being hit by a fishing trawler. That incident had serious consequences across Shetland. Digital phone lines down, internet down, mobile signal down, cash machines down, businesses forced to close, all demonstrating just how much we rely on technology and it raises serious concerns about the safety implications for the crew aboard that vessel. But risks are only going to increase unless we act now to establish cable corridors around Shetland as Shetland Fisherman's Association Advocates and our other coastal communities as we build more infrastructure at sea. Presiding Officer, as I begin to bring my remarks to a close, I would once again like to put on record my concerns about the resourcing of Marine Scotland. We are increasingly asking more of the Scottish Government body and it will grow in importance as a consequence. We need to make sure that we have the right amount and balance of staff, equipment and technology. We are relying on that body to ensure the biodiversity of our seas, the sustainable fishing of our seas and manage all the resources that our seas offer in helping us to reach our net zero targets. I hope that the Scottish Government can give us some reassurance about Marine Scotland's future today. We will now move to the open debate and it is disappointing to note that not all every speaker who is seeking to speak in the open debate had the courtesy to listen to all the opening speeches. Speachers of six minutes, we now have used up all the time in hand. I call Karen Adam to be followed by Rhoda Grant. I have probably mentioned a few times before in this chamber that my constituency has many coastal fishing communities that are embedded in integrity and there is a real pride in fishing culture and heritage. The Scottish Government brings a set of principles to the table of coastal negotiations aligned with that long-established good faith and integrity and doing so as a well-regarded good global citizen. This debate on fishing negotiations comes at a time when leaders and citizens from around the globe just gathered in Egypt to take stock of efforts to preserve our planet for future generations. Sustainability is on all of us. It is our responsibility to take seriously the stewardship of the sea. The theme of sustainability and preservation of biodiversity flows through our negotiations and discussions, which is indeed a huge task. In Bamshire and Buckingham Coast, the role that our oceans and seas play is a part of our daily lives, but it is living ever closer to the real and obvious challenge of climate change. At the forefront of our negotiations is the understanding that fishers and processors in my constituency and others are fearful as to the future of an industry reeling from the Westminster perfect storm of Brexit, a cost of living crisis, economic chaos and spiralling energy costs, as well as an immigration policy that fails the industry, particularly in the labour constraints it upholds. Scottish Fisherman's Federation chief executive Elsbeth MacDonald spoke for many when she said that the Brexit deal on fisheries fell far short of what the industry had sought and what the UK Government had promised. Scottish White Fish Producers Association's CEO Mike Park said that it is clear for the offshore catching sector that Brexit failed to deliver any benefits of being a coastal state. Scottish Seafood Association's CEO Jimmy Bucking said that fishers had been badly let down. The Tory rhetoric of a sea of opportunity is indeed exposed as entirely false. I have spoken about the culture and heritage of the industry in Scotland, but we must also recognise the significant contribution that the industry adds to the economy. In 2021, fish and seafood exports were valued at £1 billion, which is almost 60 per cent of total Scottish food exports and employs some 15,000 people across Scotland. Marine Scotland acknowledges that valued contribution and, in doing so, invest back to support it. For example, around £14 million has been awarded to date in 2021 and 2022 across a range of projects, including supporting young fishers to enter the industry, enhancing sustainable aquaculture, protecting the marine environment and supporting Scotland's coastal communities with improved infrastructure and facilities. The strategy for the seafood sector announced in October highlighted on-going work to monitor and manage the marine space so that consumers can have confidence in the sustainability of Scottish seafood. It detailed how the fishing and aquaculture sectors are being supported to remain internationally competitive and attract skills and talent to some of Scotland's most rural and coastal areas, despite the challenges of the post-Brexit trading environment. I appreciate your intervention, but there were some issues around the new fisheries negotiations. Do you recognise that landings increased by 15 per cent between 2020 and 2021? Increased landings is fantastic, but we have to ensure that we also have the labour onshore and processors to be able to cope with the landings there as well. There is a lot of pressure on the industry that is feeling that, but I agree with my colleague that that is good news. The commitment to sustainable fisheries management is locked into our overarching fisheries management strategy, and those negotiations will drive many of the new policies and management improvements that are planned over the period to 2030. The latest fisheries statistics show that Scotland's seafish and shellfish industry recovered in 2021 from the Covid-19 pandemic but has not yet returned to pre-Brexit levels. As I said last month, the comprehensive and long-term plan has been put together with the voice of the local fishing industry at its heart, and the same is true of the coastal state negotiations. That gives Scotland's world-class sustainable fishing industry security and a prospect of a bright future. In our current programme for government, we committed to publishing our approach to the blue economy through an action plan. That recognises the importance of Scotland's marine space and marine sectors as national assets, and they are critical to meeting our ambitions for sustainable stewardship of the marine environment. The action plan will be underpinned by a vision and will provide a framing and ambition for Scotland's marine management policies, strategies and plans, including the fisheries management strategy and coastal negotiations. Our vision for Scotland's blue economy is clear that the actions that are required to steward our marine environment sustainably cannot be delivered in isolation. I am confident that by working in partnership with our co-management groups, we can deliver the best outcomes for Scotland's marine environment, our seafood sector and coastal communities. Although we might be facing challenges, we do what this Government does best, and that is to stand up for, always promote and protect Scotland's interests. Until Scotland regains its independence and EU membership, I am sure that the Scottish Government will continue to be actively involved in the coastal state negotiations in which we will play a key and active role in ensuring the protection of Scotland's interests. In conclusion, the outcomes that we seek at the annual fisheries negotiations are aligned to that vision. We are not looking for outcomes that will benefit a few or that will betray a whole industry as the Brexit deal has done. We are committed to delivering the right deal for Scotland. I now call Rhoda Grant to be followed by Alasdair Allan. Ms Grant is joining us remotely. Up to six minutes, please, Ms Grant. Thank you, Presiding Officer. This debate is an annual occurrence where the Scottish Government sets down its approach to those annual negotiations. They must have key principles in mind when approaching the negotiations, principles that are highlighted in the Scottish Labour amendment today. These are a finite resource but are not confined by borders. Therefore, all states must approach negotiations in the clear knowledge that they must all manage this finite resource—a resource that must be nurtured and managed for ourselves and also for future generations. We must make that a key principle for those fishing in Scottish water and use our influence to extend that principle as far as we can internationally. To do that, we must fish at sustainable levels and must be guided by the science. To have buy-in for those decisions, fishers must also be involved. In the gathering of the information required to inform that science and have their knowledge and experience recognised as well, too often our approach has been talked down rather than collaborative. How often have we heard fishers say that there are a lot of species available where the scientists are saying the opposite? Both cannot be right and therefore there needs to be much more collaborative work. Scientists need to see what fishers see and vice versa and only then can we build trust in the collaboration required to build a sustainable fishery. It is in everyone's interests that we have a sustainable fishery for the industry, for our coastal communities and for us all. I must invest in research and development of selective gear. Most of our fisheries are mixed and we need to try to find ways to allow the fishing of plentiful stocks while avoiding by-catch of species that are scarce. Every time I have spoken in this debate, I have talked about by-catch and how we must ensure that it is landed and used under a regime that does not encourage its pursuit. The regime does not need to be complicated but it needs to ensure that there is no waste. Economically fishing is crucial to our coastal communities. There is an opportunity to increase the jobs in the sector that the sector provides currently by adding value at the key side. Too often we see lorries lined up the key to his fish straight to markets abroad, missing the opportunity to add value locally. We have conflicting issues here because we lack a workforce to do this in many of those coastal communities and boat owners tell us that they have challenges recruiting crew locally and they struggle to recruit from abroad due to immigration restrictions. This is because many of those ports are in some of the most picturesque areas of Scotland, areas where young people are being forced out because they cannot get housing. The fishing industry does not pay its workforce in a way that fits with the requirements of banks and building societies. It can be very lucrative but it does not pay weekly or monthly salaries. Pay depends on whether I am catch. People can make a good living at sea but we need to ensure that they can use those earnings to buy themselves a home, otherwise we lose them. Lack of housing for young people leads to de-population and dependence on foreign crew. It also means that communities miss out on the economic benefit that processing work can bring to the area. Small communities with a degree of fish processing can support more jobs on land as they do at sea. Sustainable inshore fisheries' trust in their briefing for the debate made the point that inshore fishing must never be overlooked. They ask how the Scottish Government will integrate inshore fisheries into regional marine planning. Something we are still waiting for is that inshore fisheries are the linchpin of the economy for small coastal communities. They land locally and process locally. That part of the industry must be recognised and assisted and developed. In order to capitalise on fishing, we need to ensure that all Scottish board boats land at Scottish ports. Tony Mackay's report on fishery states, Scottish vessels landed £393 million, 70 per cent of their fish in Scotland in 2021. The other landings were in Norway, around 20 per cent, Denmark 4 per cent, the rest of the UK 4 per cent, Ireland 1 per cent and other countries around 1 per cent. That highlights Scotland lost out on almost a third of Scottish boat landings. While non-Scottish boats also land here, that only makes up for about 3 per cent of the total landings when you remove the rest of the UK. Presiding Officer, fisheries management is the responsibility of Scottish ministers. It is their responsibility to ensure that Scotland reaps the full benefits of this industry. Over the last decade, I have spoken in this debate and I have continued to press and raised some points over and over again. Investment in gear, listening to both fishers and scientists, putting sustainability at the heart of negotiations and yet this Government seems incapable of carrying out those core purposes I hope they listen now and make progress. If they do, our young people will find careers in a successful industry and our coastal communities will flourish. Thank you, Ms Grant. I now call Alistair Allen to be followed by Jamie Halcro Johnston up to six minutes. Please, Dr Allen. Thank you, Presiding Officer. The on-going coastal states negotiations are of the utmost importance to Scotland's fishing industry and, as others have pointed out, the results of those negotiations will dictate the industry's short-term opportunities, as well as Fishing's future in the longer term, aiming to secure the sustainable management of fish stocks in the seas that surround us. In a country with as rich a coastline as Scotland, it is little wonder that fishing remains a key part of our economy, not least in constituencies such as my own. During the on-going negotiations with neighbouring coastal nations over the strategic management objectives and approaches for shared fish stocks, the Scottish Government is rightly, I believe, working to achieve the best possible outcome for Scotland's fishers, coastal communities, the seafood sector as a whole in particular and for our environment. It is vital that the Scottish Government continues to respond to the key challenges facing Scotland's fishing industry. I could name many, but to name a couple of recent ones, the leap in fuel prices over the past year and the impact, as others have pointed out, of labour shortages. It is also important to recognise that the needs of the west coast, such as in my constituency, can differ radically from the needs specific to the east coast of the northern isles fishing industries. Ensure fisheries in particular and the produce at the export play a vital part in the local economy of the islands. There remains a strong demand for the export of high-quality Scottish fish and seafood, accounting for an impressive 63 per cent of the UK's total seafood exports last year. All the available evidence shows us that most Scots see Brexit in fishing, as in so many other areas of our lives, as an extraordinary act of national self-harm to the UK's economy, hampering our ability to efficiently trade with our closest neighbours. A small number of small seafood businesses in my constituency have expressed grave doubts about whether it is practical to export to the EU altogether due to the increase in paperwork delays and costs that they have experienced since Brexit. Brexit has created a myriad of other issues. The shortage of labour across the country is something that almost every industry is having to contend with, and fishing is no exception. The UK Home Office seems, however, to continue to refuse to engage its common sense on this matter, as it clings to its damaging anti-immigration rhetoric at all costs, while jobs across countless sectors go unful. That affects the long-term viability of many businesses, not least in the fishing industry, crushing the potential growth. The UK Government insists that it is working to create. For example, the requirement for overseas labour on many types of fishing vessel is now the norm, and much as we want to recruit within Scotland, it is increasingly needed. Following immigration regulation amendments after Brexit, transit visas have begun to be regularly used to employ fishers mostly from Ghana and the Philippines on boats around Scotland. The Home Office is now closing the loophole, which allows those visas to be used in this way, as it sees it, and in response to allegations more significantly of human rights abuse aboard a handful of UK fishing vessels where transit visas have been in use. In wholeheartedly agreeing with Dr Allan's detailed description of the failings of the Home Office in this regard, is he aware of the speech that was made very recently by the leader of the Labour Party in England, Keir Stammer, who appeared to cast doubt on whether immigration was a good thing and make it clear that his party appears to be opposed to immigration? Something that is really particularly damaging and unhelpful to the fishing industry that Dr Allan has championed in his party's scot? It remains a mystery, as it remains clearly to the member and to many others, I am sure, what the Labour Party's position going forward is on Labour from other countries, or indeed what their position might be more broadly on Brexit itself. In addressing the issues and the time available, I just want to say that I hope that the Scottish Government will continue to proactively engage with the UK Government on those issues, but the Labour force issue is just one example of the avalanche of challenges facing Scotland's fishing industry at present, and those issues provide a context for the negotiations that we are speaking about today. Those pressures affect all sizes of fishing enterprises and mean that the outcome of this year's coastal states negotiations has never been more important. I want to say that, when it comes to protecting our marine environment and ensuring the continued viability of the fishing sector in Scotland's coastal communities, it is not a question of either or. We must work to find the correct balance for both the fishing industry and for the environment. The key role of fishing in Scotland's rural and coastal economies must be preserved and encouraged and our marine environment protected. It is my hope that this year's coastal states negotiations are an opportunity to be proactive to ensure the long-term sustainability of our sea's fish stocks and of our fishing industry. Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. Scotland's relationship with the sea has, for centuries, been an important one. We are a maritime nation and have depended on the sea for trade, food and defence throughout our history. The fishing sector is disproportionately significant in my own region and in the north of our country. Fishing is not only valued for its economic benefits and its continuing role in providing fresh and sustainable food, but also for its cultural position it holds in many of our coastal communities. My region of the Highlands and Islands is host to many varied forms that the wider fishing sector takes here in Scotland. I was pleased to see that the new Scotland Minister, John Lamont's recent visit to Shetland, involved in engaging with local fishing interests. The United Kingdom is now, as we are all aware, an independent coastal state. That has been a positive marker for our fishing industry. We have, for after so long, finally emerged from the CFP, and we are still in the early days of adapting to that renewed status. However, that is not to say that we should allow opportunities now, opportunities to create a more sustainable and workable sector to go unharnessed. Part of that independent coastal state status involves being responsible for our relationship with other international actors. Most notably, the UK Government has concluded agreements with Norway and the Faroe Islands and with the EU through the trade and co-operation agreement process. On this side of the chamber, we have urged co-operative working between Scotland's two Governments in standing up for Scotland's interests internationally. While I do not expect an end to the sort of knock-about politicking that issues like this can raise, I think that people whether in this Parliament or outworking on Scotland's seas ought to expect that both Governments will be working positively together to build more effective arrangements for the sector. I thank the member for taking that intervention. To avoid the knock-about politics, I wondered if the member would agree with me that the UK Government has only provided Scotland with £14 million for the fishing industry as opposed to what the EMF fund would have given of £62 million. I thank the member for that. I was literally talking about trying to avoid the knock-about politics and we get knock-about politics, which is very similar. I am sure in the spirit that it was asked, the question that was asked, I do not imagine when the member goes and speaks to around her constituency, they are desperately calling to go back into the common fisheries policy, but she may argue otherwise. The coastal states negotiations are of course one part of that and it is positive to see the Scottish Government play a significant role in that process. This is a period where there are real pressures on our fishing fleet and on seafood producers as well as others in the sector. A positive outcome will be more important than ever and I note the commitment to collaborative engagement in the Scottish Government's motion today and that is welcome and I look forward to seeing more of that going forward. Because of course there are other areas of concern for the industry where more work with the sector needs and will be more invaluable. Earlier this year the Scottish Government set out a fairly high-level blue economy vision aimed at securing the future health of the sector, but to realise that vision there will have to be practical actions here in Scotland. As already being raised today, I note in particular the sector's increasing concerns about how both now and in the future fishing industries are not squeezed out with competing demands in our seas. It was a concern raised with me by the Shetland Fishermen's Association when I met them in the summer and by others in the sector. Earlier this year the Scottish Fishermen's Federation and the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations outlined just some of those concerns in a joint report, noting the expected pressures that will arise in coming decades. The importance of offshore renewables, not just offshore wind but also emergent wave and tidal technologies are significant and I don't believe anyone here is seriously suggesting that those offshore renewable projects are not increasingly important or worthwhile or that they shouldn't be a vital part of the Government's energy strategy. That is however a call for these projects to be designed with fishing in mind and with serious consultation with fishing interests. As the SFF has pointed out, when done properly, fish is a sustainable and no-carbon food source and will have a continuing role in building our food security and can be a contributor to sustainability goals. More than that, it is an iconic industry in my region, an industry that has a great deal of experience in working with the sea, one whose voice must be heard on the future of offshore planning and management. On the issue of management, I will turn briefly to some of the other questions raised. It's worth noting that the 2020 future fisheries strategy supported robust compliance in the sector and a positive future built on mutual respect. These words were welcomed by many. The realities of this Government's role in fishing are managing the legitimate interests of competing users within a set area. However, the realities of effective enforcement have been quite different. We appreciate that Marine Scotland cannot be omnipresent, but too often it seems little more than a paper tiger, unable to intervene or effectively penalise unlawful and unfair activities. Gear conflicts have been an area of long-standing issue. The Scottish Government, to its credit, has looked and taken action here, but more recently enforcement has been found wanting. Taking action with not only protect the legitimate interests of those who work and earn their livelihoods from our seas, but also have the benefit of providing for protection of our marine environment where we have decided they require it. We should be proud of our fishing industry and Governments should be working hard to fight for their interests. Scottish Seafood has a global reach. I was speaking with representatives from Heathrow Airport only last week about just how significant air freight capacity has been to my region's ability to export its produce around the world. It serves as a reminder that we have a highly marketable product with a long tradition of being utilised. We should not forget the more positive position that we find ourselves in outside of the common fisheries policy, and I urge the Scottish Government to resist suggestions that returning to the CFP in one way or another would be a good thing or worth still a fair trade-off for other interests. We can harness the advances of our new fund status as an independent coastal state, and it is reasonable for our fishermen to expect that Governments, at all levels, will be outbatting their interests. Thank you, Presiding Officer. It is a pleasure to speak in this debate on Scotland's approach to the 2022 coastal state negotiations to achieve the Scottish Government's vision for Scotland to be a world-class fishing nation delivering responsible and sustainable fisheries management. I grew up in the east nuke of Fife. My father was one of the local accountants, and a large part of his job in Aenster was supporting fishers, their families and the businesses that had grown up around the fishing industry. He was also director of the Scottish Fisheries Museum, a role he was extremely proud to hold. He oft quoted Walter Scott, It's no fish you're buying, it's men's lives. The history of Scottish fisheries is traced in the museum's displays and artefacts, the boom and bust, the innovation and adaption, but also how the involvement of the whole community is integral to its success. And now with the economic pressures of Brexit, Covid, cost of living and war in Ukraine, alongside the twin impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss, it is these attributes of innovation and adaption that are needed now more than ever. The Scottish Government's strategy for coastal states negotiations are influenced by high quality science. Visiting Sands at Dunstafnish, just outside Oben in my constituency, I learned about the research work that they do in marine science. They suggest that the main reason that we still know more about the surface of the moon than most of our marine environment is because of the difficulty, danger and expense of gathering ocean data, especially from extreme marine environments. Modern technology increasingly allows us to make these important observations, and this exciting technology is being led in Scotland. Next door to Sands is the European Marine Science Park, which is home to around 10 marine sector companies active in a broad range of commercial marine activities. For example, Tritonia is a diving and underwater research company offering specialist diving services in support of a range of commercial and advanced scientific operations. As Morag Goodfellow of High said earlier this year, our guile's rich marine resources created and maintained significant economic opportunity for generations. Those latest company expansions demonstrate how innovation and technology continue to drive the maritime economy in the region. However, we also have generations of fishers working in our seas, such as those working in our guile and butte from Campbelltown, Tarbert, Oben, and many, many more smaller ports. The Clyde Fisherman's Association suggests that utilising data that local fishing boats can pick up could provide an addition to Government science vessels. In June this year, the Clyde Fisherman's Trust published. Would you agree with me that it will take some time for fishers in your community to get confidence and trust back in the Scottish Government after the recent decisions on cod and herring stocks? I would point out that relationships change all the time, and what I am working hard on and what the cabinet secretary has also said that she is working hard is on ensuring that those relationships are brought to the best way that they can be. In this year, the Clyde Fisherman's Trust published a vision, the Clyde Fishery. It is ambitious, it introduces new goals and ideas, it offers practical solutions, it supports the best possible outcomes for fishers, the seafood sector, coastal communities and the environment through a collaborative and co-management approach. In the 1800s, Lochvind skiffs were developed in the Clyde area, where their efficiency was dependent on an uncontrollable factor, the power of the wind. Now that we can control and harness the wind as renewable energy. In Trondheim in Norway, in 2015, the first electrically powered inshore fishing vessel was built, and now Fisheries Innovation Scotland are co-ordinating changes that may be possible for the Scottish fleet, innovation and adaption to ensure sustainable fisheries and communities. Telling the stories of our fishing communities, the Fisheries Museum shows how localness was taken over by big business as technology improved, catch has increased. We now need to use that technology not just to harvest the sea but to ensure that fishing is sustainable and perhaps revisit localness. The coastal state and regional fisheries management organisation negotiations are all part of that. Getting that right will protect the environmental, economic and social outcomes by supporting a move to maximum sustainable yield. The vision for the Clyde proposes a ring-fenced quota reserved from the national allocation that is directly overseen by Government with an independent auditing scientific body advising on removals. It suggests changing the 30-year-old fixed quota allocations. It proposes a mixed fisheries system informed by the science but also fishermen's observations. That would allow inshore communities to see fairer quota allocations and give an opportunity to diversify improved local port infrastructure would also help. I said at the start of my speech that the Scottish Fisheries Museum also highlights the importance to the wider community around fisherfolk. Nothing has changed. To ensure that our fishing is sustainable and the high-quality whitefish and shellfish that our seas are home to survive, communities need to work together. It has already been mentioned that the Rain Committee held a round-table evidence session on inshore fisheries in October. The session included stakeholders from both the fishing and environmental sectors and was designed to support the committee's understanding of key issues affecting Scotland's inshore fisheries to help inform our future work programme. Our discussion ranged from the spatial squeeze within our seas to just transition to workforce concerns, all the big subjects. It was a good start and I look forward to building on the foundations of this session. By working together, as the Government motion states, we can achieve the best possible outcome for Scotland's fishers, the wider seafood sector, coastal communities and the environment through a collaborative and co-management approach with all stakeholders. Those who are searching for families in East London will likely come across a fishing affiliation. In 2012, I had my family tree research on my pupa's side of the family. There were four generations of fishermen and possibly before that too. Fisher Row, Preston Pans, Cackenzie, Port Seaton, North Berwick and Dunbar are all existing harbors that have been used for fishing to varying degrees. East London has a strong fishing tradition. Most early fishmen did not stray far from the shallow coastal shores fishing for seas and flat flounders and coal fish that bred in large shoals amongst kelp and seaweed. They were caught, dried, stored and make an ideal food supply for small communities that kept communities going for years. The Dutch were great leaders of their own industry in the 16th and 17th century and held monopoly over the North Sea and greatly influenced the Scots. Negotiations over fishing were taken place even then. Fishing in East London continued with varying success over the late 19th and 20th century and still continues today, but on a smaller scale. Fishing has, without doubt, made a considerable mark on the East London way of life. Dunbar, my own hometown, is now home port to some 29 fishing vessels, varying in size between six to 15 metres long. The larger vessels concentrate in prawn trolling, and the remainder usually lay creals for lobster, ground crabs and velvet crabs. Different bait is used depending on what species is targeted. Here in 2023, we are discussing coastal state and regional fisheries management organisations with the EU, Norway and the Bayer Oils. The outcome of the negotiations will be pivotal in providing fishing opportunities to the Scottish fishing industry and ensuring that sustainable management of fish stocks in the longer term supports the efforts to achieve the best possible outcome for the wider seafood sector and our coastal communities. Let's look at the context of fishing in Scotland today, in the history of the last two years. The Tory breaks sell-out of Scotland's fishing sector hasn't held build trust and the integrity of the UK Government having Scotland's fisheries interests at heart. Throughout the Brexit process, Westminster Tory Governments set up Scotland's fishing communities as a bargaining chip in the Brexit negotiations. From the start, the UK Government set up Scotland's fisheries, as I said, as seen as expendable. Direct quote from Boris Johnson. Contrary to the Brexit here's promises of lesser taping bureaucracy, the Tory Brexit cause is still adding a pile up of extra bureaucracy for our exporters, yes? Does he believe that fishermen, whether in his area or across Scotland, want to go back into the CFP as his party would have? I think that there are mixed views on that. I think that the key thing, if the member will listen to me, is that they want trust in their politicians. They certainly didn't get in the Tories in the Brexit discussions, that's for sure. Indeed, when the CFP warned in a very short time, and those are direct quotes, we could say the destruction of a centuries-old market that contributes significantly to the Scottish economy. Direct quote from Elsbeth Macdonaldus at SFF. The SFF made it clear in the view that Brexit deal and fishes fell far short of what the industry had sought, and what the UK Government had promised. What the UK Government had promised, and I've taken one already. Scottish Life Producers Association's Mike Park said that it's clear for the offshore catching sector that Brexit has failed to deliver any benefits of being a coastal state. As I said, it damages the context if any of the negotiations that the UK Government lead is trusting and supporting Scottish fishermen. In regards to the spatial squeeze, and that's been mentioned by a few members, I recently met the RSPB and visited the bar shop with them. At that meeting, they discussed and we discussed the report, Powering Healthy Seas, Accelerating Nature Positive on Shore Wind. This was a collaborative effort between them, the fishing industry and conservation groups. I'm glad to say at this stage, Scottish renewables—no, I've taken one already and I'm conscious of my time. I'm glad to say at this stage that Scottish renewables are talking down with RSPB and fishing groups at this stage about that report. It spells out what is needed to make the shift in nature positive offshore wind, integrating marine recovery and resilience for our seabirds and fishing stock into energy development. So what should the Scottish Government's negotiation strategy and Scotland's approach to the negotiations be? What should they be influenced by? High-quality science, we've heard that before, and wider policy objectives, including socio-economic implications, are key. Scottish Government has already stated that its negotiation approach is underpinned by a set of guiding principles that will remain consistent and need to progress towards good environmental process. We need to fully comply with the range of international conventions and obligations, in particular the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and foreign management decisions using best available scientific advice, and obviously speaking to fishermen as well, and ensure that foreign vessels fishing in Scottish waters meet the same high standards that apply to Scottish vessels in Scottish waters. Of course, the Scottish Government will ensure that our vessels meet those standards when fishing elsewhere. Departure from the EU has changed the international context in which we operate, but the Scottish Government is determined to continue to play a full and key role in supporting and delivering international fisheries management. In the briefing for today, the sustainable insurers' fisheries trust touched upon the requirement to adapt the changes arising from biodiversity and climate crises. They raised that they think insurers' fisheries will have to adapt their increase in competition for space and insurer waters. This transition will enable to, in your opinion, lead to the displacement of certain fishing activities in specific areas. I am asking if the minister could touch on that, the cabinet secretary could touch on that and are summing up today. In conclusion, fishing communities have long been a part of East Lodian and Scottish coastal communities, but exit has damaged the sector. The Scottish Government and its approach to coastal states negotiations will help our fishing and drive, protect our environment and ensure sustainable fishing. I now call Ariane Burgess to be followed by Siobhan Brown. Up to six minutes, please, Ms Burgess. Thank you. Presiding Officer, we are deep in a climate and nature emergency. The disappointment of COP 27 reverberates around the planet as we look set to cross over the safe limit of 1.5 degrees Celsius. That is the context that we need to keep fully in our minds when shaping and scrutinising legislation and debating topics such as those coastal states negotiations. I thank the Scottish Government and its negotiators for their efforts to achieve the best possible outcome for Scotland's fishers and the seafood sector, coastal communities and the environment. We are all aware that they are working within constraints, including economic challenges exacerbated by Brexit, the war in Ukraine and the aftereffect of Covid-19. Of course, ministers must balance the economic interests of the fishing industry with the long-term sustainability of our seas and fish stocks. However, for too long, the balance has been off. If we are serious about achieving the best possible economic, social and environmental outcomes, the balance needs to shift. Under the Butehouse agreement between the Scottish Government and the Greens, we are starting to see a rebalancing. We are working to deliver fisheries management measures for marine protected areas and developing a suite of highly protected marine areas that will protect at least 10 per cent of our seas. The Scottish Government is taking steps to incentivise the use of selective fishing gear and low-impact techniques, and I welcome the call for ministers to report yearly on that. The measures will be vital for restoring the health of our seas, but the benefits will be undermined if we do not also set quotas that protect and restore our fish stocks. The UK Fisheries Act 2020 sets objectives that the four Administrations are required to pursue. The sustainability objective includes the imperative. Do not over-exploit marine stocks. The precautionary objective is to enable biomass levels to recover until stocks can produce maximum sustainable yield, and the ecosystem's objective requires that human pressures, including fishing, must be kept to levels compatible with good environmental status. The Scottish Government's blue economy vision reflects those objectives and recognises that we can and must thrive within the planet's sustainable limits. In order to fulfil that vision, by 2045, we need to change the way we approach quota negotiations now. Scottish waters account for 13 per cent of European seas. Although we are not an independent party in the negotiations, we have quite a responsibility and opportunity to influence how quota is set, particularly for certain species. By way of example, I will focus on one stock of critical concern, West of Scotland cod. From Cape Wrath up around the Faroes and down to the Clyde, West of Scotland cod has declined by 92 per cent since the ICES started issuing advice in 1981. The biomass is below the level where the stock is at risk and the stock is at risk of collapse. That is why the scientific advice is to set total allowable catch for this species at zero. However, the UK and the EU have set the catch limit above scientific advice every year for 35 years. Bottom trawlers argue that they need quota for the stock because they catch it as by catch and they do not want to breach the landing obligation. They want a higher quota so that they can use all their quota for other species without reaching the limit on West of Scotland cod first. However, it should not be acceptable to exceed scientific advice just because it will alleviate the so-called choke in the fishery. The maximum sustainable yield is supposed to be a limit to keep fishing pressures to a sustainable level, as required by the fisheries act. By not staying within this limit, we are prioritising short-term economic gain over long-term stock recovery and ecosystem health. Scotland is not solely responsible for West of Scotland cod, but we have a good opportunity to influence negotiations on it. DEFRA listens to Scotland's position on that, so why do we advocate for an approach that would ensure the stock recovers rather than sign up to the same approach that has failed to bring about significant recovery since the early 1990s? Of course, we must consider the socio-economic impact of suddenly setting a zero catch limit. We do not want our fishers to face a cliff edge, but it does not have to be all or nothing. Why not set a commitment to recover West of Scotland cod stocks by 20 per cent each year and advocate for total allowable catch and quota to be based on that? Sadly, West of Scotland cod is just one of many stocks that are overfished. The latest Scottish Marine assessment found that 46 per cent of evaluated stock were below the level capable of producing maximum sustainable yields. Rebuilding fish stocks to this level could allow the UK to land an extra 442,000 tonnes of fish each year. With Scotland contributing 61 per cent of the UK fishing industry's economic output, that would deliver significant benefit to fisheries and the rural economies that they support. Our seas are the last great common for Scotland. Fish are a public asset recognised under the UK case law. If we surveyed the Scottish people, I bet they would not want the public assets in our seas to be over exploited until they cannot recover. They would expect the Scottish Government to ensure that those assets are managed responsibly to wind up. If we get cash limits, please do conclude now. Deputy Presiding Officer Scotland's fish are a national asset to our naturally wealthy country. In 2019, 70 per cent of Scottish seafood exports to the EU were worth over £770 million. In 2019, seafood accounted to 57 per cent of Scotland's overall food exports and had a total value of £1.02 billion. With Scotland only 8 per cent of the UK's population, Scottish vessels accounted for 61 per cent of the value and 67 per cent of the tonnage of all landings by UK vessels in 2021. In my constituency in South Ayrshire, the industry employs roughly 215 people and is worth £11.6 million. Scotland is a major fishing nation that is internationally recognised, and we need to ensure that we do everything to protect this important industry. I remember that big red bus that was going to save our UK 350 million a week to invest in the NHS. Another very fishy story by the Tories was that Brexit would be a sea of opportunity for the Scottish fishing industry. This is yet and very unlikely to fruition. Brexit has been disastrous for the Scottish fishing industry. To end, the end of the UK Brexit discussions concluded that a trade and co-operation agreement on Christmas Eve 2020 did not deliver on the promises, particularly on the uplift of all the quota shares made by the UK Government. Following the departure from the EU on 31 January 2020, the UK is now an independent coastal state, as we all know, and the Scottish Government, as part of the UK delegation, plays an active role in ensuring that Scotland's interests are protected. It is really important that we listen to the industry. I have a fish exporter based in my constituency, and with an extra £5,000 a week added to his weekly costs due to Brexit administration, he says that his business is no longer viable. I have met with local fishermen in my constituency, Brexit, lack of staff and cost of living crisis and fuel prices. Will you welcome the fact that the trade and co-operation agreement agreed in December 2020 will increase the amount of EU quota being transferred to Scotland of 25 per cent of the existing EU quota? I will get to that further in my speech. I have also met with local fishermen, and times are extremely tough for the thriving industry. Their existence is in real jeopardy and time is running out to salvage the remains of our valuable fishing communities before they are lost for good. I thank the cabinet secretary for recently visiting a local asher fishing company with me to hear about the challenges that they face and the fascinating work and the wealth of experience behind the industry. I know that she is meeting the fishermen on the Clyde shortly again to continue the positive engagement. We need to look at ways in which we can support the industry, as it is so important to our Scottish economy. Today's motion by the cabinet secretary highlights all the on-going negotiations with our international partners to ensure the best possible outcome for our Scottish fishers. I know that the Scottish Government's negotiating strategy and priorities are influenced by high-quality science and take into account the wider policy objectives and socio-economic implications, but consideration is also given to utilising local fishing boats as reference fleets. Without accurate science, knowledge of local stocks can be limited, and in the Clyde specifically, it should be noted that boats are recording temperatures on the sea floor of 13 degrees this month. In recent years, it has been 8 degrees, which is still very high in comparison to previous years, and cod generally spawn in temperatures of 4 to 7 degrees according to scientists. So climate change is having an impact on the industry and local knowledge is so valuable. Just one other issue that I would like to highlight is that with climate change is fishing safety. Climate change is also affecting sea temperatures and the summer predicting more volatile weather, and ageing vessels will struggle to operate safely in such conditions and can't be retrofitted to accommodate hybrid engines or alternative fuels, and this is an issue that is going to affect many of our fishermen moving forward. On the Clyde, there has been a strong interest in increased prawn access, and it has been acknowledged that the reduced nephrops fleet has been largely due to age, lack of crew, impacts of Brexit and Covid, and recent closures. Increased access to prawn stock may help to revitalise and replenish the coastal fleet, which has been reduced in Scotland in the past few years. One thing that I would like to highlight also is that the Clyde fleet has been particularly hard here in relation to access to crew and enforcement of the transit visa that has now been in place for every year in this region only, and that has led to regional disproportional opportunities as Northern Ireland has continued to fish in the Clyde with full transit visa crew, while our Clyde boats have been tied up. The Clyde fishing association is deeply concerned with the level of fishing boats that are now dwindling at a more rapid rate on the Clyde than anywhere else in Scotland, and any consideration to support to diversify would be greatly appreciated. In Trun, in my constituency, 20 years ago, there were 70 boats and now there's only six. The factories in Aire, Killkill, Glasgow and Lanarkshire are seeing a demand in the nephrops domestically and in the EU, but they just do not have the volume of fishing boats or the staff to support the demand or the market, and this has really become critical for factories and fishing communities. The Clyde fishermen wanted this raised so that the negotiating team is fully aware of all the challenges that they face. Scotland's fishing fleet and sea fisheries are significant contributors to Scotland's rural and coastal economies. The commercial fishing industry contributes significantly to Scotland's food and drink economy and, in particular, is playing an important part in remote and potential fragile communities. We need to preserve this industry for the future. I'm delighted to have the opportunity to speak in today's debate. In the wake of COP 27, many campaigners are concerned about the lack of significant progress internationally towards achieving net zero and environmental targets. Today's debate is a welcome opportunity for the Scottish Government to set out what it hopes to see emerge from the upcoming coastal states negotiations. There is much in the Government's motion, which we support, including the need to improve opportunities for Scotland's fishing industry and to ensure sustainable management of fish stocks in the long term. Today's debate also allows us to assess the progress that we are making here in Scotland in delivering a more sustainable fishing industry. As my colleague Colin Smyth has already outlined, there is still much progress to be made by the Scottish Government. Scottish Labour's five tests have set out clear objectives around sustainability, fair quota distribution and support for socially, economically and environmentally beneficial fisheries. I'd urge the Scottish Government to work towards achieving those, because for too long Scotland's seas have been in a state of decline. That must be reversed. While targets are missed and pledges remain unfulfilled, we will not deliver the marine recovery that is so vitally needed. Why is it so important that we reverse the decline of our seas and promote marine recovery? It's clearly important to the rural communities and coastal communities in Scotland who greatly rely on the fishing industry for jobs and their local economies. By redistributing quotas, we can ensure that everyone in our coastal communities reap the benefits of our national resource. By tying quota access to fisheries that provide local fair work using low-impact measures, we can restore our marine environment while strengthening our coastal communities, all of which will contribute to repopulation and preservation of an important part of our cultural heritage. Can I get the time back? I'm afraid there is no time in hand. I'm sorry, I haven't got time. If we fail to grasp the opportunity to use existing mechanisms like quotas to support Scottish fishers, it's the coastal communities that will pay the price for our political inaction. Just as Scotland's mining communities suffered serious economic hardship, which still scars us today, so the loss of fishing jobs and opportunities has been and will continue to be devastating for our coastal communities. It's not just coastal communities who need to be concerned about the decline of our seas, it's all of us. Failure to address issues like quota allocation, support for more sustainable fishing methods and the landing of catches abroad will have impacts felt across Scotland. Whether it's the harm that certain fishing methods cause to our marine environment or the loss of fish for food supplies or the break-up of our coastal communities, the responsibility falls on all of us to ensure Scotland's fishing industry is supported and sustainable. Without such a fishing industry, we will not reverse the decline of Scotland's seas or deliver marine recovery. I've spoken of the need for Scotland to have a fishing industry that is both supported and sustainable. There are a number of issues that I believe the Scottish Government must address to make this a reality. Scotland's fishers currently find themselves locked in competition due to the lack of spatial planning. Poor spatial planning is fatally undermining the future prospects of many fisheries and causing significant harm to the marine environment. The lack of planning means that poorly regulated scallop dredging is damaging marine habitats while bottom trawling in concentrations of juvenile fish is leading to the killings of the next generation of fish stocks. I would ask the minister to address Marine Scotland's delivery of the 2015 national marine plan in her closing remarks. There is also a requirement under the national marine plan for regional marine plans to be developed, but, as of yet, there doesn't seem to be a single such plan in place for any of Scotland's inshore waters. Without coherent regional marine planning, conflicts between fishers and other marine stakeholders will continue, hampering attempts to both protect the marine environment and to ensure the future prospects of many fisheries. I would ask the minister to update the chamber today on the progress being made towards delivering regional marine plans. Along with many other industries, inshore fisheries will have to transition to more sustainable practices in the wake of the climate and nature crises. Whether it is adopting lower-impact fishing gears or growing competition for space due to highly protected marine areas, there will be costs to this transition, which, for many inshore fisheries, will be prohibitive. I hope that the minister will be able to provide some detail on what conditions will be attached to any financial support that the Scottish Government will make available. Public funds must be tied to local job creation, fair work principles and sustainable practices. To conclude, we need to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. We need to do that in a way that protects and increases employment opportunities in the sector, both of which we can do because, since the UK left the common fisheries policy, the Scottish Government has assumed full responsibility for the management of Scotland's fisheries. By addressing the issues that I have outlined today, I believe that the Scottish Government can support the fishing industry into a sustainable and long-term future because the alternative is economic hardship for many communities across Scotland and further damage to our marine environment, which nobody in this Parliament wants to see. I do not have a fishing constituency. I do like my fishing in Scotland and are never too far from the coast. As a livestock farmer by trade, my respect for the fisher folk is immense. In days past, I used to post pictures on social media at the conditions that I faced during some bitter winter days feeding cattle and sheep on the hills. I often got messages from folk commiserating or telling me what a tough life farming is. As tough as it was, I always used to try to respond saying that fisher folk and their families had it much, much worse. Being out at sea in rough waters must be hard going at the best of times, so I can only imagine what it is like trying to make a living out on the water when the conditions change for the worse. They truly are the last wild food hunters in our everyday food system. I really like to associate myself entirely with the comments from Colin Smyth and Rachel Hamilton on the lost lives that fishing communities endure. Much like farmers, their fishing folk contribute enormously to our nation's food and drink output that is the envy of the world. However, over generations, political decisions have impacted our fishing industries in a way in which it has rarely had the best interest of the fisher folk at heart. In the early 70s, when Ted Heath's Government was negotiating the UK's entry into the EU, they took the view that Scottish fishermen were, and I quote, expendable in light of Britain's wider European interests. It's estimated that that meant that the Scottish fishing fleet was 100,000 jobs lost and hundreds of millions of pounds to the economy lost every year. That decision changed the course of history for our fishing communities and opened the doors to a steady decline. Opening access to the continental boats employing aggressive fishing practices contributed to a significant reduction in the Scottish fleet from approximately 1,800 boats in the early 1970s to a third of that 40 years later. Furthermore, the EU's approach to continental fisheries management, the all-encompassing common fisheries policy, was a failure in many regards with overfishing and discarding resulting in huge environmental damage, which contributed to a further weakening of the industry in Scotland. To compound matters, when the European Council meetings were taking place between the EU member states, Scotland's voice was bypassed. Who can forget the farcical situation at the member 2014 EU Agri Council in Brussels, when an unelected peer, Lord Rupert Ponsonpey, took the seat in the absence of the UK minister who was absent, despite the fact that Scotland's highly experienced fishing minister, Richard Lochhead, was at the meeting? He wasn't even allowed into the room where the negotiations were happening. Now, Lord Ponsonpey made the briefest of interventions, clearly not understanding his brief, and again showed the total disrespect that the UK Government has for our fishing industry. Representation is important in politics, and throughout the past 50 years it is absolutely clear that the big decisions relevant to Scotland's fisher folk have simply not worked for them. It was no surprise to me that there was a fervor in the fishing community for change when many were choosing to believe that the Tory driven Brexit promises a sea of opportunity. It was why they voted to leave the European Union in the first place, and it never materialised. However, do not take my word for it, it came from the chief executive of the Scottish Fishman's Federation at Erspeth MacDonald. She said, this deal falls very far short of the commitments that were made to the fishing industry by those at the highest level of government. It does not restore sovereign UK control over fisheries and does not permit us to determine who can catch what, where and when in our own waters. We are now a coastal state with one hand tied behind our back, and the industry's task in the months and years ahead is to right the wrongs of this deal. I am absolutely sure that Scotland's SNP Government will not be so sloppy with folk's livelihoods. It is an opportunity to influence the coastal negotiations that the Scottish Government is showing a full understanding and appreciation for the vital contributions that Scottish fishermen bring to Scotland's coastal communities, economy and larder, and that the Scottish fishing industry is facing challenges that include recovery from the pandemic, the effects of brexit and the impacts of the cost of living crisis. That has balanced alongside the need for a sustainable, responsible approach to managing our seas based on a thorough scientific approach, guided by impressive work of stakeholders and environmental organisations, some of which were presented at their own table discussions at the rain committee last month. I will take your intervention now. The Butehouse agreement between the Greens and the SNP has a commitment within it to extend its renewables and offshore wind sector. I would like to ask Jim Fairlie what he makes of the spatial pressures report from Elspeth MacDonald, which says that fishermen will be crowded out of our seas. Jim Fairlie. Elspeth MacDonald said lots of things, but I will also quote you back to Jimmy Bucking, who previously stated that the Scottish Government has clearly listened carefully to the Scottish seafood industry in developing its seafood strategy. So by balancing the fact that Scotland is now recognising how best to deliver a long-term sustainable future for our fisherfolk and their seas. Whilst I fully support the sensible negotiating position of the Scottish Government, nevertheless, with international relations a reserved matter, I am concerned by both the long and short-term trends relating to the UK's handling of what it has viewed as an expendable industry. We only have to look at last week and George used his comments to hear the example of the UK Government closing its ears to concerns from the Scottish Government with his admittance of the terrible trade deals with both Australia and New Zealand that were largely endorsed by the people sitting in those chairs over there. With Scotland possessing 60 per cent of the UK sea territory, the longer-term best solution for Scotland to fully realise its position as a world-class fishing nation is with independence, freeing us to negotiate directly with our neighbours. We cannot afford to hope that the UK Government will do the right thing by putting vital industries such as farming and fishing at the forefront of their priorities, because 50 years of evidence has proven exactly what they will do and it is generally never good for the Scottish sectors. I apologise to the chamber and to Beatrice Wishart for not being in the chamber for all the opening speeches. Representing the north-east of Scotland, I know how crucial Scotland's fishing industry is to economies of our coastal communities, and I know that everyone in the industry works incredibly hard to put high-quality food on our tables, and I thank them all for that. Many of those who work in Scotland's fishing industry voted to leave the European Union in 2016 because they saw a sea of opportunity on the horizon. The United Kingdom, as an independent coastal state, is building our fishing industry outside of the detested common fisheries policy, something that every SNP member seems to want to bring us back into that. I will take that intervention. The member talks about coming out of the EU and how that has been a disaster for the fishing industry, but the fishing industry is absolutely crying out for people, and yet your Government will not let them take those people on. Douglas Lumsden Exactly. What they are not crying for is to be brought back into the detested CFP that the SNP wants to drag them back into. The UK Government secured a deal, which has meant that, for the first time in decades, we now control our own waters. By cutting out the bureaucratic behemoth of Brussels, we can end the years of managed decline in the industry and ensure that it is enabled to not only grow but to flourish, and that surely is what we should all want. We are seeing that the total tonnage of fish that is landed in this country is increasing, and it is here in Scotland where our fishing industry is leading the way. I count it for more than 70 per cent of landings, yet, unfortunately, this anti-growth, anti-business, anti-fishing, SNP-green coalition is failing our industry, and that is not just coming from me but from industry representatives across Scotland. Time and again, we hear examples where this SNP-green devolved Government is choosing to ignore the industry. These days, we all know how important it is for us to follow the science, yet, according to the Shetland Fisherman's Association, that goes out the window with this Government when it comes to the science surrounding fisheries management. Then there is the under-resourced Marine Scotland, which, as it stands, is unable to properly deliver for the industry and is lacking an innovative approach to the challenges faced by the sector. Ultimately, it is the SNP's decision to clamber into bed with our anti-growth partners and greens in a desperate attempt to cling on to power that is holding back the sector. A coalition that the Scottish Fishing Federation says is fuelling an increasingly hostile environment towards the industry. Let us not forget, Presiding Officer, that it is the coalition partners in this nationalist administration that would disgracefully drag Scotland's fishing industry back into hated CFP, throwing away new opportunities only to satisfy their blind pursuit for division. While that Government ignores the fishing industry, those in the sector can rest assured that the UK Government is standing up for them. The UK Government indicated in its 2018 sustainable fisheries white paper that it intended to be a champion of sustainable fishing than lent and breadth of our United Kingdom. Unlike the Scottish Government, that is what the UK Government is doing. By angled for opportunity, this country has regained additional quota from the European Union, worth around £146 million over the next five years, which is to be shared among the four nations of the UK. We can certainly see that, all around us, there are plenty more fish in the sea. We also saw the UK Government launch the UK Seafood Fund. The fund, worth £100 million, is there to level up coastal communities across the UK, supporting the industry to process more fish lander in the UK, create new job opportunities throughout the supply chain, upskill the workforce, train new entrants and invest in the technologies to put the industry at the cutting edge of sustainable fishing. Did the SNP welcome the support for the Scottish coastal communities? Of course they didn't. How dare the UK Government do something to support Scotland's fishing industry, as it is abundantly clear that the SNP would much rather play petty, constitutional politics than deliver for Scotland's fishermen. However, I will give the minister some ideas of how the Scottish Government could help the fishing industry. The transport links to Peterhead are a disgrace. There is no rail, so producers have to rely on a single track road that goes past the notorious toll of Burness. I will take a intervention. On rail to Peterhead, I have been working with campaign group, Campaign for North East Rail, on that. I am asking the member if he will join with me in that campaign to try to ensure that we do get rail back there. We have been looking at rail, but there is no rail, so the quickest thing to do would be to improve the roads up to Peterhead. Surely the member would support that. Fish processors are allotted to invest in improved buildings in Aberdeen, because they face a crippling business rates bill. If the Government cared about the fishing industry, it would sort that out. Let's look at the lack of investment in new automation equipment. If the Government cared about the fishing industry, it would sort that out. They have the powers, so they just need to use it. The UK Government is not only acting in the interests of our fishing industry, it is listening to them. Earlier this month, the Scottish Office Minister John Lamont visited Scottish Fisheries in Shetland and will soon be chairing the next meeting of the Scottish Seafood Industry Action Group. Meanwhile, I am left wondering if Lawrence later has yet managed to figure out where the Scottish fish farms are located. The UK Government is meeting with industry stakeholders, listening to what they need and what challenges they face. I welcome them to ensure that they succeed and deliver smooth seas for the future. We have heard some interesting contributions this afternoon from other members in the debate, including those that have strong fishing connections in their areas, as I do, especially in shore fishing across the South Scotland region. We have important fishing communities in Imouth, Carcouberry and Strunrar, as well as other locations across the south-west of my region. Like Jim Fairlie, I want to acknowledge what both Colin Smyth and what Rachel Hamilton have said and have rightly highlighted that the dangers that are faced by our fishermen when they are out catching and supplying food for us all. It is really important that you mention that today. The Scottish Government's key priority throughout those negotiations is always to protect Scottish interests by securing sustainable catching opportunities for our Scottish fishermen. As others have said, it is important to work within environmental limits, making sure that fish stocks are managed sustainably while providing a resource for our future generations and safeguarding the diversity of our marine ecosystems. That is part of responsible fisheries management. It would be wrong not to recognise the significant pressures on the Scottish fishing industry that they are currently facing, including recovery from the pandemic, the effects of Brexit and the impacts of the cost of living crisis. We have heard that from others already this afternoon. Fishing opportunities for the majority of key stocks for the Scottish fishing industry are negotiated annually through a variety of multi-party and bilateral forums. The UK's exit from the EU has had a devastating impact on the seafood sector overall. The end of the Brexit discussions concluded with the trade and co-operation agreement on 24 December 2020, which clearly did not deliver on the promises, particularly on the uplifts in all quota shares made by the UK Government. Following exit from the European Union, the UK has now become an independent coastal state and has conducted negotiations on that footing since 2021. The Scottish Government's key priority throughout negotiations is always to protect Scottish interests by securing sustainable catching opportunities. However, the Tories' promise of a sea of opportunity—this is not the first time it has been mentioned this afternoon—for the Scottish fishing industry has now been exposed as completely hollow. Jim Fairlie is right when he said that the fishing industry has been clear in expressing its views. I do not think that there is time, Mr Carson, because there have been a lot of interventions this afternoon, so I am sorry. I am just going to keep going ahead, because I want to respond about common fisheries policy that has been brought up as well. The Scottish Fisherman's Federation chief exec, Elspeth MacDonald, said that the Brexit deal on fisheries fell far short of what the industry had sought and what the UK Government had promised. Mark Mite Park, the CEO of the Scottish White Fish Producers Association, said that it is clear for the offshore catching sector that Brexit failed to deliver any benefits of being a coastal state. Scottish Seafood Association CEO Jimmy Buchan said that fishers had been badly let down while post-Brexit trading conditions for processors were challenging at best. Indeed, over 70 per cent of Scottish seafood exports were to the EU in 2019 worth over £770 million. In 2019, seafood accounted for 57 per cent of Scotland's overall food exports and had a total value of £1.02 billion. The landings by the Scottish vessels accounted for 61 per cent of the value and 67 per cent of the tonnage of all landings by the UK vessels. I know that members have mentioned that the landings have increased, but the value has decreased. That is an important point to make. It is something that we can explore in further detail as we move forward. The Scottish Government will continue to support our industry to recover from the Tory's Brexit betrayal and press for the £62 million of marine funding that Scotland is entitled to to be fully allocated to Scotland However, the impact of Brexit on our fishing industry and, indeed, on losing our precision in those negotiations must be made clear. Through the UK Seafood Fund, the UK Government is directly funding projects in the devolved administrations in the devolved policy area. Additional spending for those businesses and initiatives in Scotland is always welcome, however, it is not just simply additional funding. First and foremost, the UK Government is spending in an area devolved to the Scottish Government in an area of crucial importance to Scotland. It is imperative that the Scottish Government is accountable to the Scottish Parliament and that it makes decisions about how marine and fisheries funding is spent in line with Scotland's priorities. The UK Government is presenting the UK Seafood Fund as a solution to all the industry's challenges, with more landings and more opportunity to support the long-term economic development in coastal communities. Brexit has had a devastating impact and it has not delivered on the promises made in relation to uplift in all quota shares. It has promised in the past but it has not been delivered. If the appropriate share of the £100 million funding for the UK Seafood Fund had been allocated to the Scottish Government directly, it would have been able to support meaningful investments informed by its detailed engagement with Scotland's marine and seafood sectors in support of our blue economy. Instead, what we have is the UK Seafood Fund operating in the same space as the Marine Fund Scotland scheme. The Scottish Government does not ask to administer devolved expenditure in England, so there is no reason why the UK Government should do it in Scotland. In closing, we need to make sure that there is an opportunity that we can do better and that we can be at the table front and centre. Front and centre of negotiations in the future will bring about improvements and a better deal for our fishing communities. Today's debate has highlighted the importance of the fishing sector to all of Scotland, but in particular the coastal communities. Many of us have the privilege of representing and showing how crucial the current fisheries negotiations are and how vital the consequential decisions that the Scottish Government will make on quota distribution will be for the industry and for our environment. Paul McClellan spoke about the proud history of fishing in East Lothian, but it is important today for the county. Karen Adams spoke about the pride in fishing communities in her northeast constituency. I had the privilege of recently visiting the Port of Peterhead and the fish market with my colleague Anas Sarwas to see just how important that is to the community, but also the whole of Scotland's fishing industry. Emma Harper highlighted the importance of fishing in the South Scotland region, with its eye mouth, Strunraar or in Kirkcwbryd. However, a number of members spoke about the significant challenges that industry now faces as the current negotiations take place. Several members highlighted that the continuing impact out of Brexit, and Siobhan Brown in particular highlighted that over 70 per cent of fish exports go to the EU. That is over £1.6 billion from the UK. Any barriers to market is a barrier for our fishing industry. Rhoda Grant spoke about the well-documented challenges that industry has access in labour as a result of the EU-UK trade incorporation agreement. That agreement has delivered not as much the sea of opportunity that Douglas Lumsden claimed, but more an ocean of uncertainty with barriers to market and to labour, which have all but cancelled out the very incremental increase in the share of Fisheries Scotland's fishers will see up to 2026. A key issue in the debate raised by a large number of members, Rachel Hamilton, Jamie Halcro Johnston, Beatrice Wishart and many others, was the practical challenges for fishing of the accelerated expansion of offshore wind and the pace of application of management measures within marine protected areas. The so-called spatial squeeze, which should not just be seen as a well-known view of the fishing sector and its representative bodies such as the Scottish Fishermen's Federation, but which needs to be better recognised by those involved in the planning and regulation of the marine area. Beatrice Wishart was right when she said that it is not a just transition for one sector to squeeze out another sector. The Scottish Government failed to implement the 2015 national marine plan, including spatial planning. As Marcerius Vallalba said, there has been an absence of regional marine plans 12 years after the passage of the Marine Scotland Act in seven years since the first national marine plan was approved. The need for those plans has never been more important both for the economic uses of our seas but also its vital ecological restoration. As Karen Adam, Ariana Burgess and Marcerius Vallalba all said, today's debate comes at a time that the world has been meeting in Egypt at COP 27. We cannot underestimate the environmental importance of our seas and capture and store in excess carbon from the atmosphere, highlighting the importance of proper fisheries management in combat and climate change. Marcerius Vallalba set out Labour's five tests, which will continue to judge the Government on in relation to the establishment and distribution of sustainable fishing quotas and the management of our seas. Whether those negotiations and quota distribution deliver a better deal for smaller boats, whether they lead to more catch being landed in our Scottish ports, whether they deliver a lower impact and more sustainable fishing industry for the benefit of our environment, for our coastal communities and for the whole future of Scottish fishing. We know that there are some fishing methods that cause more environmental damage. In June of this year, open seas and partnership with Greenpeace began touring the Scottish coastline to document the health of the seabed and observe the fishing practices taking place in UK-protected areas. Operation Ocean Witness actively investigated the current health of our oceans and the damage poorly regulated fishing can have on our seabeds and marine life. They gained valuable insights into the health of our marine environment from mapping ornate seagrass beds to investigating evidence on the impact of bottom-toed fisheries on biogenetic reefs. The Scottish Government's own marine assessment in 2020 found that it had failed to meet targets to prevent damage to priority marine environments that caused five large seabed habitats to shrink. That work highlighted the importance of marine protected areas but also the need to better incentivise a change to lower-impact fishing methods. I welcome the fact that Ariana Burgess supports Labour's call for progress on this to be reported on on an annual basis by the Government. A number of members raised the issue of the scientific advice used in negotiating quotas and agreeing their distribution, not least because it is, by its very nature, never 100 per cent accurate. Obviously, when the advice is more positive such as the case with cod this year, it is often welcomed but maybe not so much when it recommends a reduction in quota. It is important that any advice is scrutinised and if we feel it is not robust it should be challenged because it has such a profound impact on the livelihood of our fishers. Finlay Carson, Rachel Hamilton and Rhoda Grant all made an important point that we needed to buy in from our fishers so that they have a role in helping to supplement the science from their knowledge and from their vast experience. That is very different from entering negotiations on the basis of how we try to find a way around the scientific advice if we simply do not like it. In concluding, there is, unquestionably, a challenge and, at times, a difference of opinion in how we balance the environmental, social and economic impact of fishing, how we protect livelihoods of those who work in the fishing sector while also preserving and saving our diverse marine environment. However, I think that this debate has shown that one thing that is not in question, what is not in doubt is the importance and recognition that all speakers place on the commitment and the bravery of Scotland's fishers who, day in and day out, continue to deliver that high-quality, low-carbon food to our tables. For that, we are very much in all of their debt. Not that we need to be reminded but today we have heard about the crucial role that fishing plays in Scottish life. Many of the comments that we made today during the debate reflect the importance that we place on the sector both in terms of food, trade and environment. It can, of course, be a precarious industry both in terms of business and in safety. I joined with Colin Smyth and others across the chamber in sending my condolenties to the family of the fisherman who lost his life despite violent efforts from Port Patrick inshore lifeboat and emergency services this weekend. My constituency has had its share of tragedies with the salt we harvested and the mariel sinking still fresh in our minds. We must never forget the men and women who put to sea every day to put high-quality environmentally sustainable food on our table. Our thoughts are always with every family who have lost a loved one, and our thanks goes out to everyone who set sail around our coasts. As a result of leaving the common fisheries policy in 2020, the UK Government is now an independent coastal state, which means that the UK and Scottish Governments now have control over its own fishing destiny. As my colleague Jamie Halcro Johnston said, we have, after so long, finally emerged from the CFP, and while we are still in the early days of adapting to this renewed status, it does offer opportunities to create a more sustainable and workable sector. Most notably, having independent coastal state status involves being responsible for our relationships with other international actors. While it is not perfect as an independent coastal state and is part of the EU TCA, we will see a 25 per cent of existing EU quota being transferred to the UK, and the UK Government has also successfully negotiated a deal to access Norway's waters with an estimated value of £16 million, something that Jim Fairlie failed to recognise and, as usual, concentrated on constitutional grievance, which no-one favours fishers or the wider Scotland. Today, I am afraid that I have got no time, there will be a joint fisheries statement with the UK Government and the Scottish Government and they will announce catch quotas in the post-Brexit world. It is a hugely complex issue with much behind-the-scenes negotiating, but there is well widespread belief within DEFRA and others that the announcement tomorrow will be broadly welcomed by industry. On Thursday, our former MSP colleague and now Minister John Lamont will host his first meeting as the chair of the Scottish Seafood Industry Action Group at Queen Elizabeth House in Edinburgh, involving UK Government and Scottish ministers along with representatives of the seafood, catching, processing and aquaculture sectors. I look forward to hearing about the many positive outcomes that are agreed with both our Governments as a result of those discussions. I and many in the chambers, but sadly not all, understand the importance of co-operation and the working between our two Governments, especially when it comes up to standing up for Scottish interests internationally. I agree wholeheartedly with Jamie Halcro Johnston again when he says that people, whether in this Parliament or out working in Scotland seas, ought to expect that both Governments will be working positively together to build more effective arrangements for the sector. Similarly, Douglas Lumsden touched on the detested common fisheries policy and that it was one of the reasons that the Scottish fishing industry voted to leave Europe in 2016. I acknowledge that there have been some issues with the deal that we have at the moment, but we are already seeing that the total tonnage of fish landed in this country is increasing, and in Scotland, where our industry is leading the way, accounting for more than 70 per cent of landings. Of course, it is critical that we follow scientific evidence to help to recover fish populations. I am sorry, I do not have any time. Earlier this month, I was pleased to host, albeit remotely, the Scottish Fisherman's Federation reception, where the importance of science was highlighted and the need for industry and scientists to work hand in hand to gain a better understanding of our marine resources and ensure government act in response to the need of all stakeholders, fishers, coastal communities and their marine environment. Right now, the lack of scientific data is of real concern, something that is raised today by others, including Rhoda Grant. It is vital that the Scottish Government delivers the UK Fisheries Act 2020 as well as creates a spatial plan for fishing to prevent gear conflict and protect nursery spawning grounds. Our seas are a public asset. Fish are a public resource that should be managed to achieve the optimal social, economic and environmental benefit for the people of Scotland. The Scottish Fisherman's Federation has already highlighted, and we have heard today on numerous occasions about the spatial squeeze and how our seas are becoming increasingly crowded. It is evident that more and more calls for the use of our sea, but until recently, there has been little recognition of the accumulative impact on fishing of different activities and policies. It is a bit like the Government failing to appreciate the accumulative impact of wind farms in rural areas. The fishing industry has for some time laid out its concerns about accumulative impact on the sector, including pipelines, cabling, wind farms and the unintended consequences of spatial pressures. That was highlighted by Rachel Hamilton, Beatrice Wishart and others. Along with its counterparts, the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisation in England, the SFF, commissioned a report to look at the spatial squeeze and fishing from other activitie