Offshore implications on EC agenda
The potential impacts of moving aquaculture sites further offshore was one of the topics discussed at this week’s Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) event, held by the European Commission.
Delegates, including representatives of the Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation (SSPO), used the event to discuss the challenges facing industries that operate in deeper water.
The SSPO’s Jamie Smith, who is also the country’s representative of the Federation of European Aquaculture Producers (FEAP), was joined by other FEAP representatives from Spain, Denmark and Ireland.
He said: “Achieving consent is recognised as one of the biggest nontechnical barriers to development in the marine environment. As the industry looks at new, innovative ways to increase capacity in order to keep pace with demand, moving operations further out to sea is certainly a consideration”.
Aquaculture production is covered by the Water Framework Directive (WFD), which represents all marine activity up to 1 nautical mile (nm) out to sea. MSFD covers 1 – 12nm offshore. Both Directives aim to support and maintain Good Environmental Status (GES) in the marine environment.
The event was attended by representatives from renewable energy, oil and gas, shipping, research and conservation, with the aim of helping to develop guidance for member states implementing MSFD.
