Liz Smith MSP has called on the Scottish Government to engage with local angling clubs to ensure that the science which underpins rural policy is made more robust.
Today, a motion lodged by the Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP to block previsions in relation to the mandatory catch and release of wild salmon was defeated by 6 votes to 5 in the Parliament’s Environment Committee.
In response to the strong concerns expressed by local angling clubs across Strathearn and Strathallan that the modelling which underpins decisions about river categorisation is seriously flawed, Liz Smith MSP, has sought a commitment from ministers that radical improvements are made to the collection of data and the scientific modelling which underpins it.
Liz Smith MSP said:
“This very same issue was debated in 2015 yet very little has happened to improve the data which is used to categorise rivers. That is why, along with other opposition parties, l am calling on the Scottish Government and its agency Marine Scotland to up their game when it comes to the provision of accurate, evidence based data.
“We have a right to assume that policy making should always be a considered response to the collection and accurate interpretation of the relevant data. At two recent committee sessions in the Scottish Parliament, Marine Scotland admitted to inadequacies within the science so l cannot understand why we are still in this unsatisfactory position.
“Not only does this matter to local angling clubs but it matters to the local economy, to tourism, leisure and sport and to the welfare of local communities. It is time the SNP spent more time fully engaging with local angling clubs instead of ignoring their concerns.”