Scottish Government Debate: Supporting Scotland’s Fishing Industry

Mairi Gougeon S6M-19739 That the Parliament condemns the UK Government’s damaging decision to allocate Scotland only £28 million of the £360 million Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund, which is only 7.78% of the fund; agrees that this is an entirely unfair settlement and calls on the UK Government to reverse this decision, as called for by the Scottish Government and industry stakeholders; acknowledges that Scotland previously received 46% of the EU funding allocated to the UK; welcomes that the Scottish fishing sector accounts for over 60% of the UK’s fishing capacity and over 60% of UK seafood exports, and that more than 75% of all UK quota species are landed by Scottish vessels; recognises the need for continued investment to build a thriving, sustainable and modern fishing industry, which is of key importance to Scotland’s island and coastal communities and the wider economy; acknowledges the range of challenges facing the fishing industry, including the ongoing negotiations with international partners to agree fishing opportunities for 2026 and the challenging advice for a number of key stocks, and further acknowledges Scotland's negotiating position, which seeks to balance sustainably managed fish stocks alongside a sustainable and prosperous fishing sector. Further details available for S6M-19739 Tim Eagle S6M-19739.2 As an amendment to motion S6M-19739 in the name of Mairi Gougeon (Supporting Scotland’s Fishing Industry), insert at end “, and opposes the proposed Moray Firth FLOW-Park, which will have a negative impact on the local fishing sector and for which plans have received significant and widespread opposition." Further details available for S6M-19739.2 Rhoda Grant S6M-19739.3 As an amendment to motion S6M-19739 in the name of Mairi Gougeon (Supporting Scotland’s Fishing Industry), leave out from "condemns" to end and insert “regrets that the Scottish Government asked for the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund to be devolved without first agreeing a mechanism outside of the Barnett formula that reflected the size and value of the Scottish industry; notes that, since the 2024 election, the Scottish Government has received an additional £5.2 billion of funding compared with previous spending plans; calls on the Scottish Government to plan for the future of fishing, by developing the processing industry to deal with a larger share of fishing in UK waters and encourage new entrants into the industry, especially within the inshore fleet; believes that the Scottish Government must invest in scientific research in order to manage Scotland's fish stocks to protect the industry going forward; regrets that the Scottish Government has not introduced space-based planning of Scotland's seas to ensure that renewable developments do not put pressure on the fishing industry and other marine users, and calls for the development of a scheme to lease additional quota share equitably in order to end the trading of quota and licences.” Further details available for S6M-19739.3 Ariane Burgess S6M-19739.1 As an amendment to motion S6M-19739 in the name of Mairi Gougeon (Supporting Scotland’s Fishing Industry), after "economy;" insert "further recognises the central role that Scotland's low-impact fishing fleet plays for those communities, both economically and environmentally, and believes that the fund should prioritise that fleet; accepts that all parts of Scotland's fleet, not just the low-impact sector, will continue to experience a spatial squeeze without proper spatial management for fisheries, based on science and with strong local input;". Further details available for S6M-19739.1 Beatrice Wishart S6M-19739.4 As an amendment to motion S6M-19739 in the name of Mairi Gougeon (Supporting Scotland’s Fishing Industry), insert at end ", and calls on the Scottish Government to guarantee that its own distribution of the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund, as well as any other similar funding, is allocated proportionately so that the contribution made by Shetland and other island and coastal communities to the fishing industry and Scotland’s wider economy is properly recognised." Further details available for S6M-19739.4