Regulatory expert chosen to lead fish farm rules reform
Scotland’s salmon farmers have welcomed the appointment of experienced business, public and third sector regulatory expert Professor Russel Griggs to lead the Scottish Government’s promised reform of fish farming regulation.
In the run-up to last May’s Scottish Parliament election, the ruling Scottish National Party (SNP) pledged to make fish farming development more responsive, transparent and efficient by creating a single determining authority.
Tavish Scott, chief executive of the Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation (SSPO), said: “Scotland’s salmon farmers welcome the appointment of Professor Griggs to lead regulatory reform of our sector. We have confidence that he will fulfil his role effectively and professionally given his expertise in the Scottish business landscape.
“Scotland’s salmon farmers have been requesting positive regulatory change for a long time. It would bring Scotland in line with other salmon producing countries like Norway, and therefore improve our industry’s competitiveness.
‘Better regulation, not less’
“It’s about having a regulatory regime that works effectively for salmon businesses, wider society and the government. We want to see better regulation that improves the efficiency of the planning system, not less regulation.
“Today marks the first step in delivering on this important manifesto promise.”
Scotland’s rural affairs secretary Mairi Gougeon said that while aquaculture is a significant contributor to the rural economy, “reports and parliamentary activity over the last few years have made clear that the regulatory landscape is contentious and there is a need for improved efficiency, effectiveness and transparency”.
Griggs said: “I very much welcome the opportunity to lead this important review.
“Aquaculture plays a major role in maintaining sustainable rural communities and the economy as a whole and this review is both timely and necessary.
“The industry faces significant challenges and also has its critics, but I will approach this review with an open mind and engage with stakeholders from across the aquaculture spectrum.
“Only by doing this will we be able to deliver improvements in the regulatory landscape in the short-term and identify options for further reform in the longer term.”
Cross-sector experience
Griggs, who has a degree from Edinburgh’s Heriot Watt University and is an honorary professor of Glasgow University, started his business life in marketing in the pharmaceutical industry, and has gone on to hold senior roles across a variety of different sectors, including textiles, design, business development, banking and investment.
He is chair of several organisations and committees, including the Institute of Occupational Medicine, Dumfries and Galloway College, the audit committee of VisitScotland, and most pertinently the Scottish Government’s independent regulatory review group in Scotland.
Russel is currently chair of South of Scotland Enterprise, the recently created economic development agency for the south of Scotland, and led the team that created it prior to that.
