(1)The Scottish Ministers may, at the request of any person, conduct tests for the purpose of ascertaining the probable effect on the marine environment of using any substance for treating fouling matter—
(a)on or under the surface of the sea or of the seabed, or
(b)on any surface of a vessel, vehicle, aircraft or marine structure in, on or over the sea or on the seabed.
(2)In this section “fouling matter” means—
(a)oil or chemicals, or
(b)algae or other living or dead organisms.
(3)The Scottish Ministers may recover any expenses reasonably incurred in conducting any tests under subsection (1) from any person at whose request the tests were conducted.