UK: Edinburgh plays host to a new aquaculture conference

The conference will be opened by Roseanna Cunningham MSP, Scottish Minister for Environment, who will provide an outline of where the Government is at in progressing the framework, including the work of the Ministerial Working Groups on Aquaculture.

Delegates will also learn more about the recent new proposals to streamline and improve efficiency of the planning process within the Scottish aquaculture industry. Key environmental stakeholders will talk about the need for sustainable practices that conserve the natural environment as well as understand more about the work or the Aquaculture Stewardship Council and how it will impact the Scottish industry.

There will be discussion on how the economic downturn has impacted the Scottish Aquaculture industry and debate how the sector can better attract investment ensuring long term competiveness.

Moreover, they will understand how the future of the aquaculture industry is being underpinned by strategic scientific research; explore how the aquaculture industry can make best use of the Scottish quality brand; hear from the retail sector on what they are doing to ensure food is sourced sustainably and meets consumer needs; hear the International Speaker, Professor Constantine Vamvakas, speak to the problems and challenges over the past 30 years in EU aquaculture outlining the reasons which changed the sector and making it, for some species, a world leader.