This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Fixing a future for fish farming
30/10/2001
An invitation to the fish farming industry to help
develop a long-term strategy was issued today by the
Executive.
"Now is the time to engage in a wide-ranging debate
about the sort of aquaculture industry we want in
Scotland", Rhona Brankin, Deputy Minister for Environment
and Rural Development said.
The Minister wants the industry, Scottish Environment
LINK, 'Angling for Change', and local authorities to meet
her to discuss key issues as part of the development of a
long-term strategy for aquaculture.
She has also invited the Transport and Environment
Committee and Rural Development Committee of the Scottish
Parliament to contribute to the debate.
Ms Brankin has provided a series of questions and issues
as basis for discussion.
"The Executive is already addressing some of the key
areas of concern surrounding fish farming," she said. "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. We must have a wide-ranging and inclusive
debate.
"I have today invited some of the key organisations to
meet me to discuss these important issues. I will be having
further meetings with other stakeholders as the debate
develops.
"My goal is to achieve consensus on what shape that
strategy should take, and I welcome the active and open
participation of everyone with an interest."
The issues on which the Minister would welcome views are
as follows.
Scotland has an aquaculture industry:
- what are its costs/benefits and what is their
objective measure?
- where does the balance of economic, social and
environmental "need" lie?
What purpose does the Scottish aquaculture
industry serve ?
- how can it help to meet growing market demand at a
time when catches of other species are declining (the
so-called "fish gap") ?
- how can it help the diet & health of the nation
?
How is each sector of the industry placed to
compete internationally both now in the longer term
(5-10 years) ?
- how can the industry diversify ?
- how might it otherwise increase competitiveness
?
If the industry is to be sustainable (both in
its own economic terms and environmentally) :
- what factors (eg impact on fish stocks used for
fishmeal) need to be taken into account?
- what further growth would be compatible with our
environmental aspirations?
- what level of environmental pollution would be
regarded as "acceptable" - can we devise a
measure?
- what can Scottish coastal waters (however defined)
sustain?
- how might environmental impacts be reduced?
What should be the criteria for locating fish
farms:
- should farms be sited further off-shore?
- should they be land-based (
anywhere in Scotland)?
- should they be otherwise re-located (and if so,
when and under what conditions)?
Aquaculture will be bound by the terms of the
new Water Framework Directive:
- what will be the Directive's impact on the
industry?
- on what basis will aquaculture be expected to
co-exist with other water users?
What should be the role of the public sector
:
- can it be both regulator and sponsor?
- should it continue to be investor?
- what should it be?
What should local government's role be in the
regulatory process:
- can/should it be more than regulator?
What aspects of the industry should be
supported by government research :
- what criteria should be applied in identifying
research priorities?
- should there be some external scrutiny of the
research proposed/undertaken?
- what should be the FRS role in aquaculture-related
research?
- should there be joint-funded industry/Government
research projects (eg new technology, new
species)?
- The consultation to develop a long-term strategy
for aquaculture was announced on June 26, 2001.
It involves:
- conducting a wide-ranging inclusive consultation
about the big issues surrounding fish farming;
- developing more focused debate around a set of
strategic proposals; and
- culminating in a Strategy for the future, around
which the Executive wishes to muster a broad
consensus.
The Executive aims to complete the development of the
strategy by spring 2002.