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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Bill to protect marine wildlife | Bill to protect marine wildlife |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Proposed new laws to protect Scotland's marine life while safeguarding offshore jobs are being unveiled by ministers. | Proposed new laws to protect Scotland's marine life while safeguarding offshore jobs are being unveiled by ministers. |
| Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said current legislation needed to be simplified, while ensuring the marine environment had a sustainable future. | Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said current legislation needed to be simplified, while ensuring the marine environment had a sustainable future. |
| The Scottish Government's Marine Bill is likely to combine existing bodies into one - Marine Scotland. | The Scottish Government's Marine Bill is likely to combine existing bodies into one - Marine Scotland. |
| The legislation would also set up a new marine planning system in an attempt to encourage renewable energy development. | The legislation would also set up a new marine planning system in an attempt to encourage renewable energy development. |
| The legislation is also expected to provide increased protection for seals, while some fisheries and fish farms could be allowed to manage their local seal populations under licence. | The legislation is also expected to provide increased protection for seals, while some fisheries and fish farms could be allowed to manage their local seal populations under licence. |
| Groups representing various interests from wildlife and birds to the fishing industry were consulted as the bill was drafted. | Groups representing various interests from wildlife and birds to the fishing industry were consulted as the bill was drafted. |
| 'Good opportunity' | |
| Bertie Armstrong, chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation, said there was a need to balance the interests of the fishing industry with those of conservation and renewable energy. | |
| "It is absolutely essential that fishing has a proper place in marine planning with the primary objectives of ensuring a profitable, sustainable industry that makes the best of a valuable and renewable resource off our coasts," he said. | |
| "If this is properly recognised in the legislation, then a good opportunity will not have been missed." |