When it expects to authorise the signing of a contract for the construction of a new fisheries protection vessel for the Scottish Fisheries…

The Fleet Renewal Programme hasled to an important improvement in the capability of the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency (SFPA) to deliver its fisheries enforcement duties, andby the end of this year three out of four of the SFPA’s vessels will be new. Therefore,I propose to initiate a review of the Fleet Renewal Programme in order to assessthe performance aims of the agency, including the case for an increase in the SFPA’sfleet from four to five vessels, the case for an enhanced presence in inshore watersaround Scotland in relation to monitoring and surveillance tasks, andother related matters. Pending that review, a contract for the construction of anew fisheries protection vessel is not anticipated in the immediate future.