The environment committee takes evidence on the environmental implications of Brexit from ministers
Urgent question from SNP MSP on Brexit transition agreement's impact on fishing industry
Labour MSP asks a topical question on water contamination at the Royal Hospital for Children
MSPs debate the Forestry and Land Management Bill at stage 3
Tory MSP leads a debate on Holodomor Remembrance Day
Image source, bbcGreen MSP Mark Ruskell
Green MSP Mark Ruskell says vast majority of anglers are still catching and releasing.
Mr Ruskell says that is why it is important that the grading of the rivers is accurate and he says it is heartening to see the modelling improving, with robust peer review being introduced next year.
He says he won't be voting for the motion to annul.
Labour MSP Claudia Beamish says she will back annulment "with a heavy heart".
Image source, bbcLabour MSP Jackie Baillie
Labour MSP Jackie Baillie says all the anglers she has spoken to are conservationists.
Ms Baillie again criticises the science and "flawed data" underlying the regulations and bemoans the lack of an equality impact assessment.
She urges committee members to back Liz Smith's motion to annul and calls on the Scottish government to take the time to do this right and to work with anglers.
SNP MSP Richard Lyle
SNP MSP Richard Lyle says he is against the motion to annul.
He argues that voting this instrument down would put salmon in Scottish rivers at risk and will eventually lead to fishermen having nothing to fish.
Tory MSP Liz Smith
Tory MSP Liz Smith says this is a "general concern across Scotland".
She argues the angling community recognises its responsibilities around fish management but warns there is an absence of robust modelling to underpin policy decisions.
The existence of only eight river counters makes it difficult to make general assumptions for rivers across Scotland, Ms Smith states.
The angling community feels improvements to modelling in recent years have not been sufficient, explains the Tory MSP.
Ms Smith says the concerns go beyond rivers, but also impact local economies, tourism and leisure and sports.
She calls for modelling to be based on international science and open to quality peer review.
The Tory MSP moves her motion to annul the regulations.
Image source, PAScotland's marine ecosystem faces "irrecoverable damage" from salmon farming if environmental concerns are not addressed, according to MSPs.
The Environment Committee said fish mortality was at "unacceptable levels".
A report concluded that there has been little progress in tackling environmental problems since 2002.
The Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation insisted it was committed to long-term sustainability.
Image source, Jeff J MitchellSalmon numbers in the River Awe are in "free fall", fishing groups have warned
Last August we reported salmon fishing groups had called for urgent action over the "unprecedented collapse" of a major run in Argyll.
The 2017 count from the River Awe in the south-west Highlands is projected to be the lowest since records began.
Fishery groups believe the declining salmon count is the result of "intensive" fish farming in the area, and the spread of sea lice at farms.
The government said a number of factors could be to blame, but said a project was under way to tackle the lice issue.
Labour MSP Jackie Baillie raises the equalities impact assessment, noting a constituent who fishes at Loch Lomond and due to his disability, is unable to go elsewhere.
Ms Cunnginham says that a formal qualities impact assessment is not part of the process for these regulations, though she adds equalities are considered.
The cabinet secretary says the process of angling has not been barred, only the taking of the fish.
Ms Baillie argues that her constituent must take the fish as returning any to the water would result in him capsizing.
Simon Dryden from Marine Scotland says the equality impact could not be found.
Labour MSP Jackie Baillie wrote to the Environment Committee to highlight concerns of the Loch Lomond Angling Improvement Association, which says Marine Scotland's information on salmon numbers "is flawed" and will have a "detrimental impact on club membership".
The letter can be viewed here. , external
Image source, PAMs Baillie previously attended the meeting and asked if Marine Scotland had done an equalities assessment on the impact catch and release regulations would have on members of the angling club.
She said that many of the members had protected characteristics and the club made a big difference to their lives.
Image source, bbcLabour MSP Jackie Baillie brandishes hand drawn maps
Labour MSP Jackie Baillie says the Loch Lomond Angling Improvement Association had to wait for two years for any engagement and when it came it was a tick box exercise.
Ms Baillie says the hand drawn maps look like they were drawn by a five year old and says she doubts the scientific basis of the regulations.
Image source, bbcThe Conservation of Salmon (Scotland) Regulations 2016, external make provision to regulate the killing of salmon in specified areas.
The purpose of this is to ensure the killing of Atlantic salmon is managed by assessing and categorising the areas of inland water with regard to the conservation status of the stocks.
They specify, for each area, whether retention of caught salmon is prohibited.
These regulations also required the Scottish government to carry out assessments of stock levels and the purpose of the Conservation of Salmon (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2018(SSI 2018/37), external is to amend the 2016 instrument to reflect the most recent assessment.
The Scottish government has described the process of the development of the instrument on its website, external, including details of a public consultation, external.
A table of the grading of each river is also available, external. This table is also included in schedule 2 ofthe regulations, external.
The practice of haaf netting dates back to Viking times
SNP MSP Joan McAlpine seeks an update on fish counters on the Annan and Nith.
Simon Dryden says the Nith is proceeding on its own as the two were unable to bring a joint proposal.
Ms McAlpine asks about measures to ensure haaf netting can continue given its historical significance.
Ms Cunningham says funding has been provided to ensure it continues as a cultural practice, though notes haaf netting can only go ahead on the Solway area.
Image source, bbcTory MSP John Scott
Tory MSPJohn Scott says this instrument is flawed and based on poor science, which has not been peer reviewed.
"We feel the whole thing is utterly flawed."
The minister accepts a lot of anglers will not be happy to take more fish but they are contributing to solving the issue of falling numbers of salmon.
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Image source, Donald MackinnonSNP MSP Kate Forbes is to ask an urgent question this afternoon on the fishery sector's concerns about the Brexit transition arrangement agreed yesterday.
The agreement has been described as a disappointment to coastal communities.
The UK and EU are proposing that during the transitional period up to 2021 the EU will "consult" the UK on fish quotas and access to its waters.
The issue angered Scotland's fishing industry on Monday, with the country's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon claiming the concession made to the EU in the transitional period - which the UK prefers to call the "implementation period" - was "shaping up to be a massive sell-out of the Scottish fishing industry by the Tories".
Tune in on to Holyrood Live at 2pm to hear the exchange.
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Image source, bbcEnvironment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham
Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham says there was widespread consultation on this.
L:abour MSP Alex Rowley says there is a difference between consultation and engagement.
Mr Dryden says Marine Scotland is engaging with relevant organisations.
Simon Dryden from Marine Scotland
Committee convener Graeme Dey asks about a formal process to appeal.
Simon Dryden from Marine Scotland says the regulations were made in consultation with stakeholders, including with local biologists.
We will meet with biologists at least three times each year to discuss modelling to be able to update it appropriately, he confirms.
Biologists have said they are far more confidence with the model for the 2018 season than they have been about previous years, Mr Dryden adds.
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Image source, bbcEnvironment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham
Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham says the modelling can be improved and the government will continue to invest in this area.
Ms Cunninghams says this responsible approach is not unique to Scotland.
Rod and line fishing can continue in all Scotland's rivers, she says, but where indicated there are 122 rivers where the fish cannot be killed and returned to the water.
The minister says the government is taking the right approach, which is the precautiouary approach.
Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham explains the first of these regulations came into effect in 2016 due to concerns about depleting numbers of salmon in rivers.
Today's regulations are the third set of measures to be brought forward for the 2018 fishing season, she says.
They reflect that fact that the numbers of adult salmon returning the Scottish rivers to spawn are still falling, the cabinet secretary explains.
"Doing nothing is not an option."
Ms Cunningham expresses confidence that the correct modelling is being used for the 2018 season.