Overview The Scottish Government’s vision is for a marine environment that is clean, healthy, safe, productive and diverse seas; managed to meet the long term needs of nature and people. Scotland’s Marine Protected Area (MPA) network is being developed to help safeguard our most important natural and cultural heritage features on the principle of sustainable […]
Set against an industry plan to double the size of the Scottish salmon farming sector has been a growing and vociferous coalition of organisations and campaigners opposed to these plans. A Scottish Parliament review was also extremely critical of both the salmon producers and the regulators for their current approach. Set against this has been […]
Common Space The Scottish Government has announced a deposit return scheme (DRS) for drinks and containers as part of plans to tackle climate change. Announcing the new scheme, which will include the ability to return aluminium and steel cans as well as drinks containers made of glass and Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic to retailers with a […]
Statement on Catch Returns for 2018 Atlantic Salmon Trust ‘The publication today of the official returns of wild salmon caught in Scotland last year makes for grim reading, for all those that hold this iconic species dear, as they are the lowest on record. Whilst the long hot dry summer of 2018 would no doubt […]
BBC Wildlife organisations have welcomed new legislation making beavers a protected species in Scotland. Scotland’s beaver site https://www.scottishbeavers.org.uk/ It is now illegal to kill beavers or destroy established dams and lodges without a licence. The Scottish Wildlife Trust said legal protection for beavers was “an important step” to enable the species to “expand its range.” […]
A recent Parliamentary debate in the House of Commons on the future of the UK water sector saw calls for the water companies in England to be based on the Scottish Water public sector model or the Welsh Water ownership model with “democratic public ownership” via new consumer and employee trusts. Gareth Thomas (Harrow West) […]
CAOLAS ‘More than 40 charities, fishing bodies and community groups are calling for an inquiry into watchdog Marine Scotland over fears it is unable to protect Scotland’s waters from criminal activity. National Trust for Scotland and the Scottish Creel Fishermen’s Federation are amongst signatories to a joint letter asking Holyrood to “take urgent measures” to protect coastal waters […]
Scottish Parliament Urgent action needs to be taken to improve the regulation of the Scottish salmon farming industry and to address fish health and environmental challenges, a Holyrood Committee has concluded. Following its in-depth inquiry into salmon farming in Scotland, the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee has determined that, if the industry is to expand, […]