Question reference: S4W-24799
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for Argyll and Bute, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 10 March 2015
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Current status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 26 March 2015
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the findings regarding electrofishing for razor clams set out in Scottish Marine and Freshwater Science Volume 5 Number 14: Electrofishing for Razor Clams (Ensis siliqua and E. arquatus): Effects on Survival and Recovery of Target and Non-Target Species, whether it will establish a pilot project in Argyll and Bute to help inform national policy on this matter and, if so, whether it will meet the Razor Fisheries Forum to discuss the (a) licensing arrangements for and (b) setting-up of such a scheme.
Answer
The government has no plans at present to establish further pilot projects involving fishing with electricity. During the preparation of the report noted in the question, field studies were undertaken that involved the use and operation of commercial fishing vessels. The government therefore considers that this work has collected the information required at present to assist the consideration of policy on this matter. Should further or different information be required the government will consider additional research activity, which may again involve the use of commercial fishing vessels.
Marine Scotland has met with the Razor Fisheries Forum twice in 2014 to discuss licencing arrangements for the fishery and will meet with them again at a razor stakeholder event at the end of March 2015.