Rural Affairs Committee calls on aquaculture and wild fish sectors to cooperate

The Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee is concerned that its scrutiny of this issue was hindered by some of the more adversarial sections of the aquaculture and wild fisheries sectors. It is calling on both sectors to set aside their differences and work more co-operatively, which is vital for the future of both industries. The Committee is also calling on measures to ensure both sectors are more transparent.

Convener of the Committee Rob Gibson MSP said: “The aquaculture and wild fisheries sectors are of critical importance to Scotland – not only in terms of their contribution to our economy but also to our environment. However, these sectors are clearly at logger-heads over a number of issues which has hindered our scrutiny of this Bill.

“Whilst the Committee does welcome this legislation, it is clear that it will need to be amended to ensure it is fully fit for purpose. Our Committee very much considers this the first step in ensuring the long term sustainability of the aquaculture industry and the wild fisheries sector.

“However, equally important as this legislation, is that the two sectors have a productive co-operative working relationship.  We issue a plea to both sides to try and set aside their differences and work together for the benefit of our people and our environment.”

Regarding aquaculture, the Committee has, in its stage one report on the legislation, amongst other things recommended that samples could be taken from any fish farm in an effort to determine where an escape had originated so appropriate steps could be taken to prevent further escapes.

On sea lice the Committee notes that data on sea lice is currently required to be collected on a farm by farm basis but that there is currently no requirement for data to be routinely placed in the public domain, but is still considering this issue. It notes that the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation is to increase the number of areas which data is collated from, however it would like to see data on this collated for each Farm Management Agreement.