Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Meeting date: Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Official Report 629KB pdf

---

Subordinate Legislation

---

Meat Preparations (Import Conditions) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2023 (SSI 2023/367)

---

Conservation of Salmon (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2023 (SSI 2023/372)

---

Bovine Semen (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2023 (SSI 2023/370)

Our second item of business is consideration of three negative Scottish statutory instruments Do members wish to make any comments on the instruments?

I have a comment on the Conservation of Salmon (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2023. I agree with the SSI but I would like to note something for the record.

A majority of respondents to the consultation on changes to river grading want urgent action to be taken on other pressures on wild salmon, including aquaculture, habitat degradation, low water quality and pollution. A Just Economics report attributed the deaths of 71,000 wild salmon in Scotland each year to fish farming. As we are allowing increased catching and retention of wild salmon in seven rivers, it is even more important that we act on the primary pressures that are affecting wild salmon populations, including salmon farming, as has been called for.

I have no objection to the Conservation of Salmon (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2023. However, having looked at the consultation responses, like Ariane Burgess, I find that they do not take into account the fact that the spring run has collapsed and that it could have a huge effect on jobs, livelihoods and the rural economy. It also does not take into account predation from seals or invasive species such as goosander. One respondent said that the count is relevant because numbers are reducing so dramatically. As a committee, we need to establish the link with the Scottish wild salmon strategy, align river gradings with the strategy’s objective and look at the SSI further.

Thank you. As there are no further comments, that concludes today’s business.

Meeting closed at 11:33.