Written Question · S7W-02796 · Session 7
Regarding its response to the report by Environmental Standards Scotland, Protecting Scotland's seafloor: an assessment of Scottish Ministe…
The question
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its response to the report by Environmental Standards Scotland, Protecting Scotland's seafloor: an assessment of Scottish Ministers' implementation of the Marine Strategy Regulations 2010, whether, it will undertake a quantified gap analysis to determine whether the measures contained in the 2025 UK Marine Strategy Programme of Measures are sufficient to deliver Scotland’s contribution to Good Environmental Status for seafloor integrity, and, should such an analysis identify a shortfall, whether it will comparatively assess the potential of new or additional fisheries management measures to contribute to Good Environmental Status, including spatial restrictions on mobile bottom-contact fishing.
The answer
Environmental Standards Scotland's (ESS) report published on 23 June 2026, Protecting Scotland's seafloor: an assessment of Scottish Ministers' implementation of the Marine Strategy Regulations 2010, contains ESS’ findings and recommendations relating to the Scottish Ministers’ implementation of those Regulations, including regarding the implementation of measures.The Scottish Government is carefully considering the ESS report and will work constructively with ESS to seek to agree an appropriate action plan within the timescale suggested in the report. The Scottish Government's position on the report's findings and recommendations will be set out through that engagement and in its formal response.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S7W-02796 by reference.