This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Brankin Announces Consultation on Aquaculture Strategy to Balance Environmental and Economic Concerns
26/06/2001
The Scottish Executive will consult with all interested parties with a view to developing a long-term strategy for aquaculture, Rhona Brankin said today.
A Strategy group will be established involving key stakeholders to map out a sustainable future for the industry - this process will be open and inclusive. At the heart of the Strategy will be the need to strike the right balance between environmental considerations and socio-economic benefits.
It will build on a wide range of activity the Executive is already pursuing to tackle concerns relating to aquaculture. Ms Brankin said:
"The Executive recognises the concerns surrounding marine fish farming in Scotland - these concerns are well documented and we are well aware of them. And we are already pursuing a wide range of initiatives aimed at tackling these concerns.
"We are also reviewing regulation for fish farming. This was started at the beginning of the year and will identify gaps in current regulation and ways in which procedures may be improved. A consultation paper will issue in the next couple of weeks.
"We recognise the importance of fish farming to the rural economy of Scotland. What we need to do now is develop a strategic framework that balances the environmental impacts against the socio-economic benefits. That is the challenge - and that is exactly what the range of initiatives we are pursuing is designed to deliver.
"But there is no doubt that we have some way to go and I believe now is the time to ask ourselves some searching questions about the sort of aquaculture industry we want in Scotland.
"The debate must be public - and it must be completely inclusive. And I want to involve all interested organisations and groups which are willing to participate.
"At the end of the process, I am determined we will have a strategy that will provide us with a basis for a sustainable industry. It's not going to be easy to achieve consensus on what shape that strategy should take - but that is my goal.
"We will start the process by:
- firstly, conducting a wide-ranging inclusive consultation about the big issues surrounding fish farming;
- secondly, developing more focused debate around a set of strategic proposals; and
- finally culminating in a Strategy for the future, around which I want to muster a broad consensus.
"The Executive aims to complete the development of the strategy by spring 2002."
News Release: SE1543/2001
26 Jun 2001