MSPs take evidence on the Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (Scotland) Bill
The Scottish government is asked about what action it is taking following the London terrorist attack, during topical questions
At 11am the Scottish Parliament will observe a one minute silence as a mark of respect to those who died and those who have been affected by the incident in London on Saturday night
The Justice Committee leads a debate on its inquiry into the Role and Purpose of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service
SNP MSP Ivan McKee leads a member’s debate entitled ‘UK Green Deal, Supporting Aggrieved Householders’
Committee convener Graeme Dey asks about 4th or 5th generation of animals that had been raised through the circus system and asks if this would still be considered a wild animal.
Dr McKeegan says that she would still consider it a wild animal.
Image source, RSPCARSPCA five freedoms
Dr Dorothy McKeegan says it would be helpful if the Bill focused more on the travelling aspect of this issue.
SNP MSP Richard Lyle says he is a honorary member of the Scottish section of the Showman's Guild.
Mr Lyle asks about the definition of a circus, for example if he asks if he had ad a wild west show would that be a circus.
Image source, bbcSNP MSP Richard Lyle
Dr Dorothy McKeegan says she is not qualified to answer that but suggests it would be circus.
He asks what Dr McKeegan's definition of wild animal is.
She says wild animals are still wild animals despite the way they were reared.
Dr McKeegan says she thinks the bill does what it intends to do.
Green MSP Mark Ruskell asks if the definition of circus is adequate in this legislation.
Dr McKeegan says she is not a policy maker but believes it should be adequate.
Mr Ruskell asks if there could be any loopholes in the definitions.
Dr McKeegan says there could be in terms of mobile zoos.
She says it depends on what animals are used and when they are used.
Dr McKeegan says she is not sure the anyone goes to a circus to be educated.
Dr Dorothy McKeegan says the Scottish government approach is reasonable but it could have gone more down the welfare approach rather than the ethical approach.
Dr McKeegan says the ethical approach is trying to reflect that public concern.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe bill would make it offence to use wild animals in travelling circuses
The Environment Committee is studying plans to ban circuses from using wild animals.
Following a government consultation, the committee is scrutinising the Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (Scotland) Bill, external.
The bill would make it an offence to use wild animals in travelling circuses.
The Scottish government announced the crackdown last September as part of its legislative programme following a public consultation which overwhelmingly supported a ban.
The government consultation in 2014 showed 98% respondents thought the use of wild animals for performance in travelling circuses should be banned and 96.4% thought the use of wild animals for exhibition (without performing) should be banned.
SNP MSP Emma Harper says it is difficult to separate the issues around welfare and asks how robust the evidence is around welfare.
Dr Dorothy McKeegan from the Institute of Biodiversity Animal Health and Comparative Medicine at the University of Glasgow says the evidence is about animal rights rather than welfare.
Dr McKeegan says there are welfare concerns and there is evidence to support this.
Image source, bbcDr Dorothy McKeegan
Dr Dorothy McKeegan from the Institute of Biodiversity Animal Health and Comparative Medicine at the University of Glasgow says the arguments in the bill are valid.
Dr McKeegan says the use of wild animals in the circus is disrespectful.
She says there is a welfare argument not an ethical argument about the impact of travel on wild animals.
Dr McKeegan says the argument that the benefit is greater than the costs is difficult to argue in the context of wild animals travelling with circuses.
She says all three reasons are valid, with the costs and benefit argument being the strongest.
MSPs begin their first evidence session on the Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (Scotland) Bill.
Committee convener Graeme Dey introduces:
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MSPs will now take evidence on the Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses (Scotland) Bill., external
The committee will hear evidence from:
and then from:
Image source, AFPand then from-
Tory MSP Alexander Burnett says he appreciates that this is an urgent matter but that there has been no business and regulatory assessment carried out.
Mr Burnett asks if there will be one.
Mr Mcleod says the intention is to bring this forward as one package within a two year limit.
Image source, ThinkstockRazor Clams
Tory MSP Finlay Carson asks if the cabinet secretary has bowed to pressure due to adverse publicity.
Mr Mcleod says there is a duty in the Marine Act for ministers to react when a habitat is damaged.
Mr Carson says there has been wholescale illegal fishing of razor clams and he asks if the same order would be brought in to protect them.
He says the damage to flame shell reefs will take 100 years to recover and he asks again about razor clams and whether there is any research in that area.
Mr Mcleod says not by his team.
Green MSP Mark Ruskell asks if a ban on scallop fishing out to three nautical miles has been considered.
Mr Mcleod says "no".
The Scottish government's head of marine conservation says the focus has been on other areas.
Image source, bbcThe Scottish government's head of marine conservation Michael Mcleod
Scottish government's head of marine conservation Michael Mcleod says there are five marine protected areas for flame shell beds.
Mr Mcleod says Loch Carron was sixth on the list and the conclusion was that five sites was sufficient at that time.
He says they have discovered flame shells have a wider range than first thought.
Green MSP Mark Ruskell asks if Loch Carron would be at number six if the MPA process could be run again with the knowledge available now.
Mr Mcleod says that is hard to say.
Labour MSP Claudia Beamish says people need information in order to respect the environmental concerns and asks how this can be improved.
Mr Mcleod says he agrees and he, and his colleagues, will be looking at whether or not the proper information is readily available to those using the area.
SNP MSP Angus Macdonald says little recovery can take place in two years and he asks what Marine Scotland's plans are will they reissue the Marine Protected Area.
Scottish government's head of marine conservation Michael Mcleod says yes that is possible.
Michael Mcleod from the Scottish government says a repeat of the damage to the seabed cannot be ruled out and if it happened again it would be bad for the environment.
Committee convener Graeme Dey says it has happened twice and asks if it was the same vessel.
Mr Mcleod says they believe the damage was caused by the same vessel because it was in the area at the time.
Mr Dey asks how much of the seabed has been damaged.
Image source, bbcCommittee convener Graeme Dey reminds everyone that there will be minute's silence at 11am
Committee convener Graeme Dey reminds everyone that there will be a minute's silence at 11am as a mark of respect to the victims and those affected by the London terrorist attack.
Mr Dey welcomes the Scottish government's head of marine conservation Michael Mcleod.
Divers film flame shell reef 'destruction'
Marine conservationists have condemned the "devastation" of a rare flame shell reef off the west coast of Scotland by a scallop dredger.
The Loch Carron reef near Plockton was "intensively" dredged on two occasions and could take decades to recover.
The dredger was operating legally, but marine conservationist Howard Wood said it represented a "complete failure" of inshore fishery management.
Image source, CHRIS RICKARDDivers say they have photographed the "plough tracks" on the sea bed caused by the dredger
The Scottish government said it would investigate the "worrying" reports.
Flame shells are bivalves that make nests on the sea bed. The reef that forms around the nests is a valuable nursery ground for young scallops, crustaceans and fish.
Many of the flame shell beds that used to be found off the west coast of Scotland have now disappeared and Scottish Natural Heritage considers large beds rare, external.
Image source, Chris RickardA dead flame shell photographed on the reef (L) compared with a healthy flame shell (R)
Mr Wood, a winner of the international Goldman Environmental Prize for his marine conservation work, said he was "mad and outraged" by the destruction of the bed, which has been photographed and filmed by divers.
"It's a complete failure of Marine Scotland's inshore fishery management," he told BBC Scotland.
"We're way behind other countries. Norway and other Scandinavian countries would not allow this in inshore waters. We need to bring our inshore fisheries up to modern-day standards.