S6W-24422

Asked by: Rowley, Alex (Scottish Labour - Mid Scotland and Fife)

Question

To ask the Scottish Government what sanctions are available to regulators to impose penalties on any companies responsible for the escape of farmed salmon.

Answered by Gougeon, Mairi - Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands

The Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Act 2007 requires Aquaculture Production Businesses to demonstrate that satisfactory measures are in place for the containment of fish, and the prevention of escape of fish. Current Scottish Government policy for demonstrating that satisfactory measures are in place are the requirements of the Code of Good Practice for Scottish Finfish Aquaculture and the requirements of The Fish Farming Businesses (Record Keeping) (Scotland) Order 2008.

Adherence to the Code of Good Practice is monitored and enforced through the Scottish Government Fish Health Inspectorate’s risk-based inspection regime. Where satisfactory measures are not in place, Scottish Ministers may serve an enforcement notice. Failure to comply with an enforcement notice may result in a fine.

The Scottish Government remains committed to working with the sector to reduce the risk of escapes from fish farms, including through the revision and publication of the Technical Standard for Scottish Finfish Aquaculture, and the introduction of penalties where escape events occur with the ultimate aim of redistributing this money to support wild salmonid conservation and research.

Dec. 19 2023

Found: Government when it will implement the findings of the first stage of the review on licensing in the aquaculture

S6W-24435

Asked by: Rowley, Alex (Scottish Labour - Mid Scotland and Fife)

Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether there is a central evidence base relating to the aquaculture industry, and, if there is, how stakeholders can gain access to it.

Answered by Gougeon, Mairi - Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands

A wide range of aquaculture research is published by universities and research institutes, both in Scotland and globally, including research by public bodies such as SEPA, as well as the Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate. Summaries of research are published by the Scottish Government Marine Directorate and SEPA on their websites and peer reviewed publications by all scientists may be accessed through a range online academic journals.

We are committed to making science as accessible as possible. The Scottish Shelf Model is a good example of a shared resource with vast array of applications which can be used by developed by the wider science community. We are working together to consider future aquaculture science evidence needs. Last year, I commissioned the Scottish Science Advisory Council (SSAC) to consider the use of science and evidence in aquaculture consenting. I look forward to working with stakeholders to further consider the recommendations made by the SSAC in their report this year.

Jul. 21 2023

Found: Vision for sustainable aquaculture: child rights and wellbeing screening sheet

Correspondence May. 29 2024

Found: beyond doubt that wild Atlantic salmon and sea trout can suffer from the presence of open pen salmon aquaculture

Apr. 19 2024

Found: How much does the Scottish Government give to the salmon industry (aquaculture / fish farming) in Scotland

Mentions:
1: None We are supportive of sustainable fisheries and sustainable aquaculture, but we welcome the fact that - Speech Link
2: None That has a timeline of 2025, so there are some short timelines.The plan refers to the aquaculture vision - Speech Link
3: Ruskell, Mark (Green - Mid Scotland and Fife) Should they sit at the top of the aquaculture strategy? - Speech Link
4: Ruskell, Mark (Green - Mid Scotland and Fife) I do not think that I have time to go into aquaculture, convener, so I will leave that to you. - Speech Link
5: Mountain, Edward (Con - Highlands and Islands) I am not going to pass comment on aquaculture, except to say that the Rural Economy and Connectivity - Speech Link

Mentions:
1: Eagle, Tim (Con - Highlands and Islands) businesses in Oban earlier this week, and I heard worrying reports that some local businesses in the aquaculture - Speech Link

S6W-24424

Asked by: Rowley, Alex (Scottish Labour - Mid Scotland and Fife)

Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many closed containment fish farms currently operate in Scotland, broken down by (a) the managing company and (b) location, and what action it is taking to encourage a move towards closed containment fish farms in Scotland.

Answered by Gougeon, Mairi - Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands

The Scottish Government is committed to exploring increasing the Scottish aquaculture sector’s adoption of new and innovative technologies which achieve both positive environmental and health and welfare outcomes, including the potential use of semi and closed containment systems, as stated in our Vision for Sustainable Aquaculture , published in July 2023.

In 2021 the Scottish Government, via the Marine Fund Scotland, awarded £2 million to a four-year project led by Bakkafrost Scotland (the then Scottish Salmon Company) to apply research and development as well as innovative husbandry to the rearing of larger salmon smolts in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS). This underlines our commitment to supporting innovation and also promoting advances in areas which will contribute to the sector’s sustainable growth. These and similar developments will create new rural jobs and benefit local and wider economies.

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) encourages new innovative techniques to reduce overall fish farm emissions through its application charging scheme. For example, where an operator shows the new site will reduce emissions by 80%+ then the application charges will be reduced by 50%.