"I very much welcome the significant reduction in the number of birds of prey poisoned, which I hope signals the real change in attitude that is required to end this outdated and cruel practice.
"2013 is the Year of Natural Scotland and our birds of prey are both a vital part of the natural environment and a stunning spectacle which attract visitors to our countryside from home and abroad.
"It is our duty to protect them."
– Paul Wheelhouse MSP, Scotland's Environment Minister
'We have a duty to protect our natural resources' says Scottish Environment Minister
"We want both indigenous businesses and new businesses coming into Scotland to grow, but we also have a duty to protect our natural resources for the long term.
"That is why through the bill, we seek to ensure the marine environment is protected while we regonise the benefits of a successful and growing aquaculture industry developing side by side with wild fisheries.
"The bill is not a blueprint for assured growth but aims to ensure there is a regulatory framework to support and facilitate that growth."
More than one-million pounds in funding has been awarded to the Scottish Borders region from the Scottish Government Rural Priorities programme.
The Scottish Rural Development Programme led scheme is currently awarding £19 million across the country, of which the Scottish Borders will receive £1.25 million, to help boost agricultural and forestry industries.
"This is great news for the successful Scottish Borders farms and forestry businesses and provides them with essential funding for diverse issues such as new woodland planting in Selkirk, investing in local farmland and measures to protect native red squirrels as a priority species.
"The SRDP funding scheme has delivered a total of £568 million to thousands of projects across Scotland since its inception five years ago and I am delighted that the Scottish Borders is benefitting so greatly from this."
Paul Wheelhouse MSP, from Berwickshire, is to join Alex Salmond's new cabinet.
The economist will take over the position of Minister for Environment and Climate Change, as Stewart Stevenson steps down.
As a result of the reshuffle, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will take on the new role of spearheading the Scottish Government's independence campaign.
The First Minister said the changes have been made to assist in taking the Programme for Scotland forward, as well as preparing Scotland for the independence referendum in 2014.