MSPs raise concerns over marine science funding

A committee of MSPs in the Scottish Parliament has warned that the scientific work that underpins fisheries policy could be adversely affected by underfunding, especially for the Marine Directorate’s research facilities.

The Rural Affairs and Islands (RAI) Committee has written to Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, following its review of the Marine Directorate budget, as part of its Pre Budget Review.

Committee members visited the Directorate’s Science Laboratory in Aberdeen (pictured) as part of its review. In the letter, RAI Convener Finlay Carson says: “It was clear that the staff we met were dedicated and professional, and the visit was extremely useful as part of our understanding of how the Marine Directorate undertakes science and provides research to support government policy.

“The condition of the marine laboratories estate, however, was far from ideal as a result of recent weather events and the age and condition of some buildings and members were concerned about the impact the condition of the laboratory facilities was having on scientists’ ability to work as effectively as possible. For example, samples need to be stored at an appropriate temperature and scientists need to have a dedicated and sufficient work space.”

One building previously used by the Directorate was currently empty because it had been found to contain asbestos, while another had been damaged by Storm Arwen in 2021 and has still not been repaired.

RAI Convener Finlay Carson told Fish Farmer after the visit: “We were quite shocked at the working conditions the Directorate staff were facing.”

Overall, the Committee found, funding levels have declined following the formation of Marine Scotland in 2009 from £75.5m in 2009-10 (£108.3m real terms) to £45.8m in 2016-17 (£58.5m real terms).

There was a £31.1m (£24.8m real) increase in funding after 2020-21 from £51.7m (£59.0m real) to £82.8m (£83.8m real) in 2023-24; but this was followed by a decrease of £4.8m (£5.5m real) from £82.8m (£83.8m real) in 2023-24 to £78m in the most recent 2024-25 budget.

The Scottish Government told the Committee that the Marine Directorate had taken in extra responsibilities , including planning compliance roles, partly as a result of Brexit and partly because of the governments increased focus on Net Zero and biodiversity.

At the Committee’s hearings, a number of experts expressed concern that the high reputation of marine science in Scotland was being undermined by funding cuts and by a focus on compliance work over research.

The Committee has requested a more detailed response to the points raised in relation to the impact of the budgetary position in the fisheries science budget.  The Committee says it will return to this issue when the 2025 to 2026 budget is published.

In relation to the conditions of the science laboratories estate, the Committee recommends the Scottish Government prioritise a long-term solution to enable the restoration and modernisation of Marine Directorate research facilities as a matter of urgency.  The Committee has requested an update on progress when the 2025 to 2026 budget is published.

The Committee recommends that the Scottish Government reinstate the publication of annual reports detailing Marine Directorate Science activity comparable to previously published Head of Science’s annual report to the Marine Scotland board published between 2011-12 and 2017-18.

The Committee said it will return to consideration of the Marine Directorate’s budget allocations and performance when the 2025-26 budget is published in December. The Committee may undertake further scrutiny of the Marine Directorate, particularly with regard to inshore fisheries management and scientific research at a later date.

Rural Affairs & Islands Committee Convener, Finlay Carson MSP