A ban on livebaiting across Scotland looked set to form part of the forthcoming Scottish Fisheries Bill tonight after the Scottish Executive backed the move.

Original drafts of the bill proposed creating the power to ban livebaiting in areas where translocation of fish could damage rare species or fragile ecosystems.

But an amendment tabled last month proposed a blanket ban and this has now become incorporated into the bill.

In her response, which was published on the Scottish Parliament’s website earlier today Rhona Brankin, Scotland‘s Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development said: “I thank the Committee for their recommendation that the Executive brings forward an amendment at Stage 2 to prohibit the use of live vertebrates as bait. I can confirm that we shall do so.”

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