Minutes: 28 January 2026

1. Decision on taking business in private:

The Committee agreed to take item 6 in private.

2. Draft Climate Change Plan:

The Committee took evidence from—

Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, Brendan Callaghan, Interim Chief Executive, Scottish Forestry, Tim Ellis, Deputy Director, Future Environment and John Kerr, Head of Agriculture Policy, Scottish Government.

3. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee took evidence on the Sea Fish (Prohibition on Fishing) (Firth of Clyde) Order 2026 (SSI 2026/10) from—

Elaine Whyte, Executive Secretary, Clyde Fishermen’s Association;

Dr Robin Cook, Honorary Senior Research Fellow, Strathclyde University;

Professor Michael Heath, Professor in Mathematics and Statistics, University of Strathclyde;

Rea Cris, Public Affairs Manager, Open Seas;

Alex Watson Crook, Projects Manager, Sustainable Inshore Fisheries Trust;

Alastair Hamilton, Chair of the NW Coast, Regional Inshore Fisheries Groups Network;

Esther Brooker, Senior Advocacy Officer, Scottish Environment LINK;

Megan Hamill, Trustee, Community of Arran Seabed Trust;

Sean McIlwraith, Static Fisherman ;

Kenneth MacNab, Mobile Fisherman .

4. Subordinate legislation:

The Committee considered the following negative instrument—

Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (Agricultural Products) (Consequential Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 (SSI 2025/407)

5. Draft Climate Change Plan (In Private):

The Committee considered the evidence heard earlier in the meeting.

6. Subordinate legislation (In Private):

The Committee considered the evidence heard earlier in the meeting.